Historic Christ Church-Recent Preservation Projects: Windows

As we had done with the projects on the doors and entablature, the Foundation called upon the skilled conservators from Tidewater Preservation to carry out this work on the windows. Greg Cowan, Chris Anderson, and E.J. Benedict began by removing the windows and transporting them back to their workshops in Fredericksburg. In the interim, they installed temporary plexiglass sashes over the window openings. Because of their remarkable similarity to the original sash, most visitors passed by Christ Church that winter without realizing all 12 original windows had in fact been removed from the church!

The second in a series of four major preservation projects planned for 2001-2003, work on Christ Church's windows began in December of 2001. The twelve massive compass-headed windows are made of black walnut and essentially retain their original sash, frames, jambs, and stops; only the glass in them has been replaced. For more than 268 years, they have provided both light and ventilation to the church. The most recent preservation work undertaken on them was performed on their sashes in 1967-68 by local finish carpenter Warnie Pritchett. Despite Mr. Pritchett's excellent work, elements in the sash continued to suffer from the elements, leading the Foundation to undertake a more comprehensive preservation program for the windows.
Chris Anderson removes a window from the north-west transept.	As we had done with the projects on the doors and entablature, the Foundation called upon the skilled conservators from Tidewater Preservation to carry out this work on the windows. Greg Cowan, Chris Anderson, and E.J. Benedict began by removing the windows and transporting them back to their workshops in Fredericksburg. In the interim, they installed temporary plexiglass sashes over the window openings. Because of their remarkable similarity to the original sash, most visitors passed by Christ Church that winter without realizing all 12 original windows had in fact been removed from the church!	Window frame on the northwest transept
Treatment of the windows involved basically the same process as that used on the doors. After removing the existing, deteriorated paint, Tidewater Preservation repaired any deteriorated wooden elements using epoxy or wood dutchmen. They then treated interior surfaces on the windows with multiple coats of alkyd resin and a polished, butcher's-wax finish. Exterior surfaces received one coat each of alkyd resin and an alkyd-based primer before two coats of acrylic enamel were applied. The last step involved repair or conservation of all broken or worn hardware to return it to its original operational design standards. Tidewater Preservation completed work on the windows by March of 2002 and reinstalled them just prior to the opening of the spring season on April 1^st. Final costs for the project totaled some $92,360. Today, the windows stand preserved as one of the finest collections of sash from colonial Virginia, a testament to the craftsmanship present in the hands that built Christ Church.		Window on southwest transept after treatment

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