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Thank you for wanting to learn more about our stained glass project! Here you will find a digital copy of our prayer book, the current status of each window, and other Q&A.
Update (4/27/21): All ten windows have now been gifted to the parish! In March, our Finance Council approved moving forward with the project, and we have received approval from the diocese as well. The creation process has begun for the first few windows, and we hope for the first to be installed by early June! -
Walking With Peter
To see the ar
twork showing the designs for all ten windows, and the spiritual meaning behind them, please click on "Walking With Peter." -
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Window Availability
Which windows are still available for sponsorship?
Thankfully, all ten windows have now been gifted to the parish! After these ten windows, we would like to install stained glass in the two large circular windows in each transept.
The circular window above our Saint Michael statue would depict Peter walking on water, and the circular window above our Saint Peter statue would depict Peter receiving the keys to the kingdom (Matt 16). Since these windows are almost twice the square footage of the ten vertical windows, we expect that they will be about twice as much to produce. If you are interested in gifting one of these circular windows to the parish, please contact our parish manager. (Willard Fosberry, 843-522-6501) -
General Information
How did the project come about?
When our church was built in 2006, the intention was to one day fill the clear windows with stained glass. In September 2020, we formed a small committee to explore the possibility. The committee interviewed several traditional stained-glass studios, and chose Redfern Art Studio. Over the course of several months, the committee brainstormed themes and gradually worked with the artist to come up with these designs, and then we began sharing the concepts with the parish in February 2021.
Who is the artist?
Carl Fougerousse is a Catholic artist who lives in Savannah with his wife and four children. A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, he owns a small studio that specializes in stained glass and other forms of sacred art for Catholic parishes. The committee was very impressed by the beauty of his work, his understanding of Catholic art, and the faith-filled way he approaches his work. Carl is the creator of these initial designs, and he is also the one who is creating our windows with the help of his team.
How will the windows be further refined?
When Carl begins work on a particular window, he creates a full-size drawing and makes greater refinements, using live models in costume to capture nuances in faces, hands, and clothing. The actual glass will have more color and richness than can be depicted by watercolor painting. You can see an example of one of his finished windows here, as well as on his website.
When would this project happen?
This project is dependent on families coming forward to gift a window to our parish community, in thanksgiving to God or in memory of a loved one. Each window will have an engraved plaque at its base. For example, one couple is gifting the eighth window to the parish in honor of their son, an artist who loved stained glass. We expect the first window to be installed by early June, and for additional windows to arrive one-by-one as they are completed, every five weeks or so.
How have similar projects occurred in other parishes?
Parishes typically find that there is a lot of enthusiasm for stained glass. Sometimes, families or parish organizations team up to sponsor a window together. Please help spread the word!
How will the windows be protected from hurricanes or other damage?
We will be keeping our current clear windows as they are. These are impact-resistant windows built according to the building codes of our county. The stained glass will be built in a new frame on the inside of these clear windows. So for example, if a vandal were to heave a brick at one of our windows, the brick would bounce off the clear exterior window panel, leaving the stained glass on the inside unharmed.
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Gifting A Window
What is the cost to gift a window to our parish?
Our windows are each 33 square feet, and stained glass is an expensive form of art, both in materials and the labor. The glass is hand-blown and imported from Europe, and each window represents hundreds of hours of careful work. As a result, the cost to gift one of these ten windows is $40,000, which covers the design, fabrication, installation, and all other aspects. Beautiful sacred art is like a sermon for the eyes, touching minds and hearts in a way that words alone cannot. These windows will inspire parishioners and visitors to our church for generations to come.
Can people team up to gift a window?
Yes. In other parishes, it has been common for a few families to team up, or for neighborhoods or for parish organizations to join together to gift a window. The memorialization would follow one of the patterns described below.
Who does one contact about gifting a window?
If you are interested in gifting a window to the parish, or have questions, please contact our parish manager, Willard Fosberry. His direct phone number at the office is 843-522-6501. (Note: all ten vertical windows are now gifted, but we hope to also create other windows in later phases, as described below.)How is a particular window reserved?
A window would be reserved for a particular family or group as soon as the office receives a check for either the full $40,000 or at least a 50% downpayment of $20,000. In the latter case, the remainder would be due prior to the window's creation. We cannot verbally reserve a window; if different families or groups were interested in gifting a particular window, the window would be considered sponsored according to the check that was received first.
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Memorial Plaque
How will each window be memorialized?
Due to the nature of the stained glass designs and the narrative we are seeking to convey through the artwork, it was not possible to put family names or a bible verse into the stained glass itself. Instead, each window will have a small memorial plaque at its base, with the name of the scene, the Bible reference, "To the Glory of God," and a dedication line. The dedication line could contain the name of the deceased person(s) for whom the window is being memorialized, a line of thanksgiving, or the name of those making the gift.What are some examples?
1) Here is an example of a window gifted in memory of someone:
Peter Meets JesusIn this example, perhaps the children of Joseph and Mary teamed up to gift this window to the parish. If the children desired, when the window is installed, they could be recognized in a full-page note of thanksgiving in the bulletin, with a photo of them in front of the completed window.
JOHN 1:40-42
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOSEPH AND MARY JESSING
2) Here is an example of a window gifted in thanksgiving to God:
The Miraculous Catch
LUKE 5:1-11
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
IN THANKSGIVING FOR SAINT PETER'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
In this example, perhaps alumni of the school teamed up to gift the window to the parish. For those who desired, when the window is installed, they could be recognized in a full-page note of thanksgiving in the bulletin, with their names and their photo in front of the completed window.
3) Here is an example of a memorial with the donor's names:
Peter Drops His Nets
MATTHEW 4:19-20
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
JOAN AND ROBERT SMITH
Again, in this example, if the couple desired, they could be recognized in the bulletin with their photo in front of the completed window.Example From Another Church
Here is an example from Saint Mary Help of Christians in Aiken:
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Potential Later Phases
The two circular windows
As this first set of windows become a reality, we will explore a second phase, which will fill in the two large circular windows. The circular window above our Saint Michael statue would depict Peter walking on water, and the circular window above our Saint Peter statue would depict Peter receiving the keys to the kingdom (Matt 16). Since these windows are almost twice the square footage of the ten vertical windows, we expect that they will be about twice as much to produce. If you are interested in gifting one of these circular windows to the parish, please contact our parish manager. (Willard Fosberry, 843-522-6501)The square upper windows
Our church also contains 32 square windows at the top of the church (clerestory windows). If the other windows are filled with stained glass, we might explore creating stained glass for these smaller windows. If so, they would each feature a more simple symbol or design, with decorative elements that match the tops of the ten vertical windows.
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Questions?
Please contact our parish manager, Willard Fosberry, at 843-522-6501 or at parishmanager@stpetersbeaufort.org. He would be happy to answer any of your questions, or talk to you about Notre Dame football!
