Multicolored sunlight shines brighter inside and out of First Presbyterian Church.
Susan and David Allsbrooks, of Burns, set the final section of restored stained glass at the church two weeks ago, more than a century after the window – and the sanctuary the glass beautifies – first appeared on the downtown Dickson landscape.
They have worked intermittently on restoring the windows for about two years. The couple, who own Allsbrooks Stained Glass Studio in Dickson County, were commissioned by the church’s elders.
Church historian Martha Gerdeman said records indicate the windows are as old as the church, which was built in 1910 and is located on North Main Street in downtown Dickson.
Working with such historically relevant glass, the Allsbrookses were meticulous with their work.
“With old windows like that, you don’t just go in there and build new windows, you have to take the old windows out and take them completely apart and clean the glass and reuse as much of the historic glass as you can,” said Susan Allsbrooks. “You replace anything that is broken with the closest thing you can to match it and rebuild it.
“Some of those windows were in bad shape where they had been hit by rocks and broken,” she added. “So, we did the worst first.”
Each window consisted of three sections. The Allsbrookses, who have been in stained glass business for 20 years, worked on one section at a time.
The couple has produced stained glass pieces for churches and other structures throughout Middle Tennessee, including Eastside Baptist and New Hope Baptist in Dickson County, St. Patrick’s in McEwen, and at Taylor Funeral Home.
They work with contractors and interior designers, too.
Susan said their business started when she took a class. Soon, it became a profession.
Kirk Vandivort, who is one of the church’s three elected trustees, said the decision for restoration was made in order to preserve the windows. He added that the storm windows previously covering the windows have been removed to “better display the ornate stained glass windows.”
“Stained glass restoration seems to be an art that few possess,” Vandivort said. “(Susan and David Allsbrooks) were available and live here in our community and perform such excellent work to the point of perfection.”
The Allsbrookes were excited about the opportunity.
“It’s a special project,” Susan said.
