We are entering a season of renewal in our worship space—one that honors the beauty of Saint Michael while caring for the future of our parish. In the coming months, you will see meaningful improvements that restore beloved elements, strengthen the safety of our facilities, and support the life of music at Saint Michael.
Stained-Glass Windows Return
In January 2025, Stanton Studio carefully removed the Crucifixion and Resurrection stained-glass windows that frame the altar and restored them at their studio in Waco, Texas. We are pleased to share that the team will begin reinstalling the windows at the end of January.
To protect and care for our worship space during this work, the construction team will build exterior scaffolding around the windows and use a scissor lift inside the Church as they construct the interior frames and carefully reinstall the stained glass. The full process will take approximately four to six weeks. Throughout the project, the team will maintain clean work areas and use protective coverings to help manage light and dust.
For the safety of our parishioners and visitors, the Church sanctuary will be closed Monday through Friday from January 26 through March 14 while work is underway. However, the Church will remain open for worship services on Sundays. Please note that we will not be able to hold funerals in the Church on weekdays during this time, as the work cannot pause once installation begins. Our clergy will gladly assist families with alternative arrangements.
Fire Sprinkler System Installation
Also in January, are we installing a fire sprinkler system in the Church Choir Loft and the Church Narthex, an important step in bringing our facilities into compliance with city safety codes. Most of this work will take place behind the scenes, and parishioners should see minimal impact. Some ceiling areas in the Narthex will be opened briefly to install sprinklers, and rugs in those spaces will be removed. This phase of construction is expected to be completed by the end of February.
Organ Renewal and Digital Organ Transition
Alongside these projects, we are also preparing for an important transition in our music ministry. Our current Schudi/Möller pipe organ has faithfully served Saint Michael for many years, but it has now reached the end of its workable lifespan and is becoming increasingly unreliable for weekly worship. Multiple ranks and pipes are no longer usable, and critical internal components are failing. The instrument can no longer consistently support the choir and congregation and it presents practical challenges in the loft, including problematic sound levels and poor projection. A major failure during Holy Week last year made clear the urgency of putting a dependable solution in place.
As an interim step, we will be installing a high-quality digital organ the week of March 8. This instrument will provide consistent, dependable support for worship while we prayerfully plan and fundraise for a future pipe organ. The system uses Hauptwerk, a leading virtual pipe organ platform that allows access to beautifully recorded historic instruments, offering a flexible and convincing tonal palette. Importantly, this digital organ is a temporary bridge—not a replacement for a future pipe organ.
Looking ahead, when a new pipe organ is installed in the coming years, it will have its own console in the choir loft. At that time, the digital console will be relocated to the front of the church to support services and events such as Lessons & Carols, Evensong, and concerts based at the front of the nave. We will also explore the possibility of integrating the front console so it can play the new pipe organ as well—a wonderful long-term solution that expands the musical life of our parish.
Conclusion
We are grateful for your patience and support as this important work moves forward. Please keep our parish and all who are involved in these projects in your prayers, and we look forward to the ways these improvements will serve our parish and enrich our worship for years to come. To learn more about our construction project, visit saintmichael.org/construction-impact.