A restored Tiffany stained-glass window is glowing again inside Second Presbyterian Church, a historic South Loop landmark where dirt, grime, and age had dulled the details that draw visitors from around the world.
The 16-foot-tall, 8 1/2-foot-wide window, known for its “jewels” that catch and refract light, returned to the sanctuary after a 14-month repair effort led by Tom Venturella, a studio owner from upstate New York, working with partner Jim Murphy. The window includes about 12,000 pieces of glass and roughly 1,000 rough-cut glass jewels.
The window restoration is part of a larger, $700,000 project that is steadily bringing the sanctuary back to life. Friends of Historic Second Church leaders said the fundraising push began after the campaign was announced in 2023, with an early boost from a donation by Marshall Field V. The window itself was donated to the church in 1893 by an ancestor, the founder of the department store.
For mason contractors and restoration teams, this is a clear example of how “one feature” on a landmark building rarely stands alone. The project team included Chicago-based Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates and Bulley & Andrews Masonry Restoration, supporting design and construction elements tied to the window’s setting, including frames, masonry, plaster repair, and painting. Even the celebration of the window’s return was scheduled around construction sequencing, including the removal of interior scaffolding and additional mural restoration work.
So far, four of the church’s 12 stained-glass windows have been restored, with eight still to go. The church will be among the sites open during Open House Chicago Oct. 17 and 18, and it also offers guided tours on weekends throughout the year.
Read the full, original article from blockclubchicago.org here.