Wednesday, August 2, 2006 · Page 11 Stained glass new feature of church renovation BY DANIEL SCHWAB Grace Baptist Church is getting a long-awaited facelift. The 130-year-old building on Talbot Street North in Essex is being outfitted with 22 new stained glass units, along with five new doors and a re-pointing of the brickwork. Pastor Richard Valade said he hopes the restorations will last for the next generation of church goers. "We knew that it had to be renovated," Valade said. "So it was presented to the congregation and they all felt this was the best route to go." Essex Stained Glass was commissioned to replace the older "drafty" windows. Owner Liz Semperger said the coloured glass is classically designed, and will add to the elegance of the church. Valade and the congregation originally planned to replace the older windows, which are not stained glass, with a similar model. But a recommendation from the church's contractor had the Essex Stained Glass owner Liz Semperger pieces together fragments of group looking to Semperger coloured glass at her shop July 28. Grace Baptist Church in Essex commisfor a different design. sioned Semperger to construct 22 units to replace old windows in the build"Once we talked to ing with stained glass. A restoration project on the 130-year-old church also (Semperger), we found she includes a re-pointing of brickwork and the installation of five new doors. was very reasonable in price," Valade said. "So be finished by the end of discovered a plaque with the Episcopal Church was purwords "Bap. Church A.D. chased in 1887 to hold relithat's why we went ahead summer. The stained glass will be 1875." gious services for local with the new stained glass." Local historians believe Baptists. The congregation Semperger, who's done one of the new features the work for local churches in congregation will notice Grace Baptist Church was eventually moved to its curthe past, said it's a common about the renovations. In originally a Methodist rent building on Talbot misconception that the May while restructuring the church. It is believed that a Street North although the application of stained glass building's brickwork, con- building on Medora Avenue exact date isn't known. the Methodist is a "million-dollar tractor Everet VanDoorn called process." "When they came to see me and I gave them a quote, I think they were a little A fundraiser dinner for Secondary School gradu- for cancer research, educashocked," Semperger said. tion and community proCanadian Cancer ates. She presented the congre- the The event will include a grams. For further informaSociety will be held Aug. gation with four different designs after visiting the 26 at the Roma Club in four-course meal, live tion contact the Canadian Leamington. music, prizes and a live Cancer Society Essex church for ideas. The fundraiser is hosted auction. Doors open at 6 County Unit at "It's such a beautiful church already," she said. by the Young Adults of p.m. and dinner will be 519-254-5116. DEA63071 10.25x40L-2C-131 7/13/06 5:06 PM Page 1 Tickets will be sold at "And I think the new glass Leamington --Leamington served at 7 p.m. All money District Secondary School raised will go to the The Hairport, Sport Mart is really going to add to it." Cardinal Carter Canadian Cancer Society Leamington, the The work is expected to and CARPENTRY SERVICES Specializing in Kitchens & Bathrooms and all your interior & exterior needs. STEVE WOJTALA 519-687-3955 · Comber, Ontario Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Ferns, Grasses, Bagged & Bulk Soil/Mulch Delivery and tree planting services, landscape design and house calls We specialize in Native Plants DIVORCE... Separation Agreements, Custody, Visitation, Spousal Support, Child Support, Marriage Cohabitation Agreements, Property Division including business assets & pensions. GARY G. OUELLETTE Greenwood Centre 974-0688 (Intersection of E.C. Row Expressway and Central Ave.) 3200 Deziel Dr., Suite 415 Windsor, Ontario FAMILY LAW E SSEX ATM PHARMACIES LTD. G u a r d i a n P reenstcrrei p t i o n C Cruise for a Cure Gregg Charlton - B.Sc. Phm 776-5131 169 Talbot St. S., Essex Monday - Friday 9-6 Saturday 9-12 Therapeutic Massage Clinic, Williams Nursery, the Leamington Post and Setterington Shopper, Fertilizer, Bateman's Modern Stationery, Ground, and the Wheatley Guardian Drugs. BRAKE MAINTENANCE SERVICE EVENT SUMMER IS FULL OF MOMENTS THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO SLAM ON $ front or rear disc brakes Clean debris & corrosion, lubricate calliper sliders/pins & backing plates, adjust parking brake cable (rear only), road test LIFETIME BRAKE PADS FROM $ PER AXLE, INSTALLATION EXTRA 59 95 THE RIGHT BRAKES FOR YOUR GM VEHICLE. Right Brakes. Right Price. 49.95 Plus tax. Limited lifetime warranty on brake pads. See participating dealers for details. Dealers may set individual prices. Offers not available in Thunder Bay, Fort Frances, Dryden, Terrace Bay and Kenora. 1-800-GM-DRIVE goodwrench.gmcanada.com.