The Newly Restored Windows

The 10,000 euros needed to restore these plain but exquisitely beautiful windows was found by generous donations from members of the congregations and from friends abroad.

Two lancets in each of the three windows needed to be taken out in turn. This was expertly and carefully done by Francis Buttimer and his cousin Bobby Buttimer. Francis had assisted some thirty years before in a similar operation on the middle lancets, so knew and remembered vividly, exactly what to do. The lead was so exhausted (and we believe it was the original lead of nearly two hundred years, so it had well gone beyond the unusual life expectancy of no more than 150 years!) that the panels where virtually impossible to take down intact. However before taking the glass out each pane was carefully numbered and a cartoon (exact plan) made of the windows.

The glass was then taken (a lancet at a time) to a local Stained Glass Window company Methuselah located in Drimoleague, in County Cork. Here Geoffrey Phillips and Ann Dex painstakingly (no pun intended!) cleaned each pane and reassembled into panels using new lead.

Each lancet was collected and returned in two panels which were then expertly fitted into the window space and tied to their metal bars.

Although only tinted and without pictures, these windows have a fine dignified quality about them. The clean freshness that they now have has an unusual appeal.

Sunday 14th October 2007

We are planning a Special Harvest and Thanksgiving Service for the restored windows at Christ Church Kilmeen on Sunday 14th October 2007 at 10.30am.

In the congregation we hope as many members and representatives of all those families who contributed (including the Willis Family from various parts of the world, who paid for two lancets) will be present. We also hope everyone else involved will be present, including Geoffrey and Ann from Methuselah.
Because of an expected birth in Scotland, a few members of the Buttimer family who also paid for two lancets may not all be present that day, so one of the windows will have another celebratory occasion when all are gathered from that family.

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