Northbridge Library

Commission: Willoughby Council

Project Status: Incomplete - information and photography of this project is likely to be updated.

Renaissance Stained Glass has been restoring the stained glass in the ex-Presbyterian church on Sailor's Bay Rd, Northbridge for the Willoughby Council as part of their extensive restoration of the building preparing it to become the new Northbridge Library.

Stained Glass is generally restored every 70 to 100 years as the lead and sealants break down over time. Restoration of panels involves stripping all the old lead and sealants from the glass, cleaning and repairing of the glass and then re-building the panel in the same way one would a brand new work - but with old glass. Depending on the general condition of the panel and the level of craftsmanship of the original work this can be more or less challenging and one never knows quite what is hidden beneath the lead until it comes off! For the most part older panels were made by professional, trained craftspeople as the craft itself was experienceing something of a renaissance in the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century so there were still plenty of formally apprenticed craftspeople around.

The history of the panels currently being restored is still being researched. A blog has been created to follow our research in this area. www.sydneystainedglass.blogspot.com.

The panels being restored include the two fully painted panels from the northern elevation and some 24 pale green diamond leadlights around the main church.