In May of 2021, an unknown person vandalized a stained glass window of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, located at 409 W. Third Street.
The Rev. Holaday, said the vandalized window was the middle window of the farthest set on the east side of the church. The blue square, just above the image of the lamb, was smashed in by a baseball, that Holaday has to this day. It took about six to eight weeks and $5,250 to repair.
“That one section ran $5,250 to fix and our deductible on that was $2,500,” said Holaday. “So, the result of this, is that we began to talk about what else needed to be done.”
Holaday hired Berg Studios, Inc., in Lubbock, to do the initial repair. Holaday said he greatly appreciates the work Chuck Berg has done for the church. Berg has been in the stained glass business for 50 years and is getting ready to retire soon.
“He was very good at what he did and we greatly appreciate it, because he did all the prep-work for all of this on the interior. You could see the big cracks in these before he did it.”
Holaday hired Berg Studios, Inc., to also install Lexan on the outside of all the windows of the church.
According to the website Missouri Glass Co., Lexan is a polycarbonate resin thermoplastic. It is almost 200 times stronger than glass. Lexan is more flexible and can withstand golf ball sized hail and temperatures up to 240 degrees Fahrenheit. “It’s the same thing they use to make bullet proof glass,” said Holaday. “Lexan is vented so it doesn’t get too hot inside, because of the expansion and contraction with what’s between the materials would damage the windows.”
Holaday said the stained glass windows in the church are faceted glass. Faceted stained glass is about an inch thick. The glass is chipped away, creating various light effects, and held together with an epoxy.
“Faceted glass is highly durable,” said Holaday. “Stained glass you can easily destroy it or a good hail storm could destroy it. This has held up, on that west side where the hail comes in, for 40 years or more. Faceted glass is stronger, but it’s harder to fix when something goes wrong. Faceted is less common, it’s much more durable.”
Holaday said the only way to repair the faceted stained glass windows is take them apart completely.
“The only way to do it is to take out that section, take apart the entire window and put it back together,” said Holaday. “That’s why it’s so labor intensive and so expensive.”
Holaday said the windows were donated by members of the church around 40 years ago. The windows were created by an artist in Belton, Texas, who has since passed away.
“This building was built in the 60s, so I’d say they were probably picked in the 70s,” said Holaday. “These were donated by different families in the church back about 40 years ago. By doing this work, the goal is to keep them in good shape for the next 40 to 50 years.”
Holaday currently has Ring cameras set up around his property to help monitor any suspicious activity going on at the church.
“From the house, I can monitor the other side pretty well,” said Holaday. “I have a Ring video that I can install over here, but I need to talk with the electrician...So, a Ring system is basically the answer.”
Holaday said people have donated money to help cover the cost of the initial repair and the installation of the Lexan.
“People have to donate money for it,” Holaday said. “Insurance only paid for $2,750 on that initial damage and the whole thing is running about $25,000. You’re paying the price of a small car to fix it and someone will have to do it in 30 or 40 years.”
Holaday said people who vandalize the windows do not understand what they are doing and that it is a felony.
“It’s a Texas state felony because it’s an intentional act against a sacred spot; cemeteries, churches, things like that,” Holaday said. “I will say they don’t realize it’s a felony, they don’t realize how hurtful it is to peoples’ memories and they don’t realize that it’s actually an attack on the signs or markers of the faith. Especially if you think of Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, it’s a direct attack on the faith.”
The Rev. Holaday said he encourages people to come see the stained glass windows.
“People are always welcome to come see it,” Holaday said, with a bright smile. “It’s a great statement to the faith. Remember what many aspects to the faith are about and these statements will be available for another generation.”