1800’s UU Church windows undergo restoration

The Judson Studios of Los Angeles began the first phase of removing the stained glass windows from the Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula on Friday, May 12, the first step in the restoration of 13 windows throughout the church. The work will include the removal of existing support bars, flattening of the panels, completion of repairs to glass and leads, replacement of perimeter leads of all panels with new lead, re-cement, rebar and reinstallation. The windows were originally made by the well known Chicago firm of McCulley & Miles in 1891. McCulley & Miles specialized in stained glass for churches and public buildings.Well known in the restoration of stained glass, The Judson Studios has been in business since 1897 and is well respected in the creation and restoration of stained glass. On his initial visit to the church, David Judson, great grandson of the company’s founders, brought with him detailed correspondence on repair work previously done on the windows by the firm in 1936. “We were thrilled to have copies for our archives,” stated the church’s Fine Arts Chair, Judy Triem. “We are especially pleased that a firm with the background and stature of Judson Studios will be doing the work.”The Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula is a registered Ventura County Landmark and a point of interest to those visiting Santa Paula. The church is located at 740 E. Main St., 525-4647. Sunday services are held at 10:30 a.m. Unitarian Universalism is known for its pluralistic approach to religion, where, as one of our slogans notes, “Different people, with different beliefs worship as one community of faith.”