Saving the Tiffany Ornamental Windows
We are grateful to have received a grant
from the George B Henderson Foundation!
The Background
Church of the Covenant has one of the largest collections of Tiffany stained glass in the world, with 20 figure windows that tell stories of hope and liberation and 22 ornamental windows that decorate the clerestory (upper level). The ornamental windows are made of Tiffany’s opalescent glass—that special translucent opal-like glass with varied colors and textures, swirls and streaks in a single sheet of glass that create multifaceted luminous effects of “painting in glass”.
The Renew the Light Campaign
The clerestory windows were in grave danger—with cracked and broken glass. Their restoration was critical for us all, including the more than 18,000 visitors a year who experience the beauty and peace of the space in our Open Sanctuary program. The goal of our Renew the Light Campaign was to preserve these windows for everyone who enters the sanctuary, now and into the future.
We are one of 16 churches out of more than 150 applicants to receive a national grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places (NFSP), a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Through their generosity, we received fundraising training and a $250,000 matching grant to conserve the Tiffany ornamental windows.
Our Campaign aim was to Renew the Light:
Save the Tiffany Ornamental Windows
- For their cultural significance, exemplifying Tiffany’s love of nature, color and beauty.
- As a symbol of the Church’s deep commitment to Climate Care and Climate Justice.
How much did we need to raise?
- $500,000 was needed to receive the $250,000 grant from NFSP
- $50,000 (a tithe of 10% of each pledge) to support the creation of an art installation for the interior of the sanctuary that encompasses a wider view of God’s beloved community beyond the sanctuary’s current inadequate Eurocentric focus. As of 2025, this is still in process.
Who else besides the congregation was solicited?
We reached out to the wide diaspora of the congregation as well as foundations, individual donors from outside of the church, and the broader Boston community who care about our mission and historic preservation.
Why couldn't we take these windows out and replace them with something less expensive?
Our National Historic Landmark status requires that we maintain the historic integrity of the interior of the sanctuary. We received this prestigious designation because of the integrity and unity of the Tiffany interior and the clerestory windows that are integral to the design. The Landmark status protects the beauty of the interior and gives us important and unique opportunities for funding in the future.
