Photo Caption: Msgr. Paul Showalter, P.A., vicar general of the Diocese of Peoria, blesses one of the newly refurbished stained-glass windows at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Nauvoo.

By: By Tom Dermody

NAUVOO — Bathed in rays of light from a setting summer sun streaming through newly restored stained glass windows, members of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish here gathered June 29 to celebrate the completion of a major parish project.

“May these windows serve as a reminder of God’s love, which shines down on all mankind,” said Msgr. Paul Showalter, diocesan vicar general and a former pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul, in blessing the windows during a vespers service on the feast of the parish’s patron saints.

The windows now also symbolize the sacrifice of parishioners, who gave more than $200,000 to preserve the church’s nearly 130-year-old stained glass treasures. Because the paint in the windows was failing, the restoration project required the painting anew of more than 5,000 pieces of glass to match the original glass color and design.

The work was done in stages over the last five months by the artists and craftsmen of Jacksonville Art Glass. In recent years, the company had also worked with Father Tony Trosley, pastor, to preserve windows in churches in nearby Dallas City and Carthage.

“The windows were in bad shape,” said Pat Ewing, a former president of the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Council who was involved in the fundraising efforts. In addition, the steeple of the church — overlooking a Mississippi River bluff and just down the street from a newly built Mormon temple — also was in need of new shingles, so a goal of $200,000 was set to cover all repairs. Parishioners responded by giving $337,000.

“We have a small parish,” said Ewing. “For them to contribute that kind of money is amazing,” he added, noting Sts. Peter and Paul also supports an elementary school.

“Amazing” is a word many parishioners also used to describe the difference the restored windows make in the church appearance.

“It’s a night-and-day difference,” said Dick Logsdon, current parish council president, as he and other parishioners enjoyed a picnic on Wells Street in front of the church following the vespers service.

Msgr. Showalter called it “wonderful work,” and Father Thomas Szydlik, parochial vicar who coordinated the project, praised the patience as well as the artistry of those at Jacksonville Art Glass. The Sts. Peter and Paul window project had been the focus of a recent segment of “Illinois Stories” on public television.

John Krol, president of Jacksonville Art Glass, said the windows feature a stencil pattern called “grisaille.” In addition to reproducing the windows, the project also required the securing of a large window in the bell tower that had been settling badly, painting of all window frames, and the replacement of dull protective plexiglass with new, clear glass storm glazing.

Chief project artist Sean Merchant also designed a new window that features symbols of St. Peter and St. Paul. It was recently placed above the main entrance.