Windows Timeline

Birth of an idea

As early as 1965, letters of interst were sent to the church by local stained glass studios regarding the potential creation of art glass for the almost 2,000 square feet of window space.

By the early 1970’s fund-raising for the future stained glass had already started. In a letter dated Febuary 12, 1980 the record Harold Brumbaum announced the desire to actively begin the campaign.

In August 1981, following a questionaire handed to the parishioners (330 families), a memorandum was written to the stained glass subcommittee regarding the creation of the new windows.

Beginning in 1982, parishioners appointed by the church’s Fine Arts Commitee spent to years investigatin the work of stained glass artists worldwide.h

Selecting the artist

During the interview process, one name kept rising to the top of the pile - that of the Frenchman Gabriel Loire. Considered by many to be the preeminent living artist in this medium, Lorie was best known in the bay area at the time for his famous Rose window at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco.

We had seen his work and felt his interpretations matched the feeling of the parish. We felt his technique was the right one for the architecture of the church which requires something strong and affirmative. -Kay Millar, Committee Member

Loire visited the site in 1983, meeting with committee and other parish members.

He was a very amiable yet a commanding gentleman. He had a box of pastels and a drawing pad. He quickly put colors down on the paper as he walked around looking at the sanctuary. He conveyed the basic feel of the windows in three or four swatches of paper. You knew you were to the hands of a master as you watched him work. -Dr Brumbaum

Loire returned to France and in 1984 the final sketches were sent to the committee for approval. The project then began in earnest in his studio in Chartres.

I believe there is a little bit of all of us in these windows. He talked with everyone personally. He wanted our ideas and he even asked for our color preferences. -Paule Lyon, Committee member

Fundraising campaigns

Costs, goals and pictures of the fundraising events.

Shipping

In June 1986, the panels were packed into nine wooden crates and taken to the port of embarkment, Le Havre. The shipment left France on June 16, 1986 and arrived in Oakland, CA on July 16, 1986. The shipment was then transported by truck to Los Altos. The total weight of the shipment was 19,191 pounds.