Grace Commons Church celebrates 150 years
Grace Commons Church, formerly known as First Presbyterian Church, is celebrating 150 years in downtown Boulder with a presentation on the historic stained glass located in the chapel.
Jane Watkins, an art historian and stained glass preservationist, will share information about the history and restoration of the large windows at a talk at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, 1820 15th St.
“These windows are so special and so beautiful,” said Watkins, of Denver’s Watkins Stained Glass. “I think people would be so curious to learn more about them.”
The original church was built in 1872, while the chapel, formerly the main sanctuary, was completed in 1896. The stained glass windows were designed by artist Leota Woy, who is best known for her bookplate designs, and built by Copeland Glass.
Unlike traditional church stained glass that depicts Bible stories, the glass in the Grace Commons chapel is mainly decorative, similar to other art glass of the period.
Exceptions include stained glass windows in the church that are dedicated to the Young Peoples Society for Christian Endeavor. An interlocking “CE” identifies the dedication of the windows to the society, while the society’s motto of “For Christ and Church” is incorporated into one window.
Another window includes a crown with a diagonal cross, which symbolizes a heavenly reward and is associated with the Free Masons. Displayed in the middle of the windows are the Greek symbols for Alpha and Omega, referring to a passage in scripture. Another window features lilies, a symbol of purity.
Phil Watkins has worked on the church’s stained glass over the years, including restoring two sections damaged by vandalism when rocks were thrown through the windows last year. He said production of the original glass used in the windows stopped in 1956, requiring him to search out glass with a similar look for the repairs.
Bars with copper wire reinforce the stained glass panels, while tempered glass outside
protects the glass from damage.
The church was one of many frontier Presbyterian churches planted, or founded, by Sheldon Jackson. The church changed its name to Grace Commons in 2020. A few years before, the church had separated from the Presbyterian Church to join a California-based evangelical denomination called ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.
“Our history gives us an anchor and a rootedness,” Grace Commons Rev. Carl Hofmann said. “The new and the old are woven together here.
The stained glass is a direct way to tie into the history of the church.”
Other events celebrating the 150th anniversary are listed on the church’s website at gracecommons.org/event/150th-anniversarycelebrations.