Restoration and Repair of Stained Glass Windows at Buckhorn Baptist Church in Como, NC

Restoration of Stained Glass Windows at Buckhorn Baptist Church in Como, NC

In 2007, Laws Stained Glass Studios began work at Buckhorn Baptist Church in Como, NC. The stained glass windows at Buckhorn Baptist Church were in very poor shape. The lead had deteriorated so much in places that daylight could be seen, and the windows did not have protective covering. So the wind literally blew through the windows. So the first work Laws did was install protective covering to seal the openings. Laws provided 1/4" Lucite acrylic that was held in place with a 1/2" x 1/2" white aluminum stop.

In 2008, Laws Stained Glass Studios returned to the church. Laws removed half of the windows: six windows (size 33" wide x 98" high) and one window (size 83" wide x 147" high), and brought them back to their studio to re-lead. The windows were completely disassembled, and the glass cleaned. Laws re-built the windows with new lead came, cemented them and applied new steel braces. The wood sashes were brought with the windows, and they were refurbished as well. After the windows were restored, Laws installed them back into the existing wood frames.

View of the existing windows from the front

View of more of the windows from the side

An existing window from the inside

Close-up of the existing windows on the interior. Note the deteriorating lead and how it has broken away from the glass.

Close-up of another window showing the gap in between the lead came and the glass.

Note the lead pulling away from the glass near the brace.

Note more cracks between the lead and glass

Interior view of an existing large window

View of the windows with new 1/4" Lucite acrylic as the protective covering.

New 1/4" Lucite acrylic as the protective covering

A rotten bottom rail on a sash

The repaired or replaced bottom rail.

The sashes being refurbished.

A sash that has been sanded is ready to be stained.

Window frame with the sashes removed, but with 1/4" Lucite acrylic in place on the outside.

Laws replaced some wood on the existing frame. Note this is before the new wood is stained. Also this is a close-up of a newly re-leaded and restored window.