Stained glass windows brighten holiday for Harveyville church
Wichita company reproduces eight windows destroyed by tornado
The prayers of some Harveyville United Methodist Church members have been answered. This year, they are celebrating Christ’s birth in a new sanctuary surrounded by eight colorful stained glass windows.
The century-old church was reduced to rubble by an EF2 tornado that cut a swath through the southern edge of the small Wabaunsee County town on Feb. 28, 2012, killing one resident and damaging several homes and other structures.
The Rev. Dennis Irwin, pastor at the church, said six of the church’s stained glass windows were destroyed by the storm. Two other windows survived.
Within a month of the tornado, the church decided to rebuild at 371 Wabaunsee Ave., the same site as the old church. Rayer’s Bearden Stained Glass Supply Inc., of Wichita, was hired to create reproductions of the eight stained glass windows in the old church. The church’s insurance policy covered the cost of the reproductions.
“We had photographs of the original ones when they were being put in,” Irwin said, explaining how the stained glass experts were able to replicate the destroyed windows’ designs.
The stained glass windows were installed in July, and the new $800,000 church building was completed in late summer. The first church service was on Sept. 1, with its official dedication on Oct. 6. Irwin said the stained glass windows show Christ’s ministry, starting with his birth in Bethlehem.
“It’s nice to be in there,” Irwin said of being back in the church for the holidays.
The church was to have a Christmas Eve service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and a children’s play postponed on Sunday because of the snow and ice storm has been rescheduled for Sunday’s regular service.