Given to the glory of God in memory of George and Magnolia Willis Sealy The great Tiffany window above the Altar is the creation of and signed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.  It depicts Christ on his throne teaching the little children and as the “Protector, over the least of these, my brethren.”  The window features Tiffany’s patented opalescent glass which, depending on the outside light, changes color during the day.  It was placed in 1904 to the glory of God and in loving memory of George Sealy (1835-1901) by his wife, Magnolia Willis Sealy (1854-1933) and his family.  Considered one of the finest examples of Tiffany’s work, it is also quite rare, due to its size and the fact that it has remained intact for over 100 years.

 

This magnificent window sustained significant damage during Hurricane Ike, September 13, 2008.  Four panels of glass near the bottom center of the window were blown onto the altar and surrounding floor.  Several other panels were bowed by the force of the wind and there was damage to the framing system that holds the glass in place.

 

 

Within two weeks of the storm, a crew from the Willet Hauser Architectural Glass Studios  arrived in Galveston to remove the window for shipment to their workshop in Winona, Minnesota where damage will be repaired and the remainder of the window will be restored.  James A. Hauser, Vice President of the studio, came with the crew to personally oversee the removal and crating of the window.  The process of repair and restoration will take approximately eight months to complete and will cost $400,000.  When the window is returned to its location above the Altar, it will have new, high impact, plate glass protective covering.