A stained-glass window that will be a centrepiece in a restored historic church in Baulkham Hills was made by a team of artisans thousands of kilometres away in India.
The studio, Stained Glass House, in Delhi, was entrusted with creating an intricate stained-glass panel of Our Lady of Ephesus for the historic sandstone church at St Michael’s Catholic Parish in Baulkham Hills.
The new panel took 45 days and six specialised artisans to complete. Standing 8 ft × 3.5 ft, the work depicts the Handover — the moment at the Cross when Jesus entrusts his mother Mary to the beloved disciple, traditionally identified as John.
It is believed that John later lived in Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey, and that Mary accompanied him there, a story that lies at the heart of the restored church’s new identity as the Chapel of Our Lady of Ephesus.
The finished panel may appear seamless to the viewer, but its creation involved hundreds of individual decisions and countless hours of skilled handwork.
The finished stained-glass panel of Our Lady of Ephesus, made by Stained Glass House, Delhi, for the historic church in Baulkham Hills. Image: Supplied
The process began with a reference image shared by the benefactor who was donating the artwork to the church. From this, the studio’s sketch artist developed a detailed working drawing. The digital design team then transformed the artwork into a stained-glass cutting drawing, accompanied by a colour-coded version showing exactly where each colour of glass would be placed.
The design was printed at actual scale and became the working template for the craftsmen.
The team of specialised artisans included portrait artists, who worked on the faces and figurative details, alongside experienced craftsmen responsible for glass cutting, grinding, copper taping and soldering.
Individual pieces of glass were carefully cut and ground to their required shapes. Pieces requiring painted detail were then hand-painted with fine metal paints, with minute details added by the portrait artists. The painted pieces were subsequently fired in a kiln furnace to permanently fix the artwork.
After several rounds of careful painting and firing, the individual pieces were copper-taped and soldered together. The completed stained-glass panel was then sandwiched with toughened glass for additional protection and structural strength.
“A project like this is a beautiful coming together of artistry, craftsmanship and devotion,” said Bilal Khan, of Stained Glass House.
“Every individual piece of glass passes through the hands of our artisans, from cutting and grinding to hand-painting, kiln firing and finally assembly. The portrait work, in particular, requires enormous patience and precision.
The old church of St Michael’s, which is being renovated and rededicated as the Chapel of Our Lady of Ephesus. Image: Supplied
“It is deeply gratifying for us to know that the work of our craftsmen in India will become part of a historic church in Australia. We feel truly grateful to have had the opportunity to create something of such significance.”
For the team in India, the project was an opportunity to carry a centuries-old craft across borders and into a house of God.
The historic sandstone church at St Michael’s Catholic Parish in Baulkham Hills, completed in 1848, is being restored and reconsecrated as the Chapel of Our Lady of Ephesus.
Its new dedication looks to Ephesus, where it is believed Mary lived under the care of John after the Crucifixion. The shrine there is also venerated by Muslims, for whom Mary holds an honoured place.
It was this interfaith dimension that resonated with Parish Priest Fr Joseph Lam. “We thought that this chapel, once renovated, should serve to remind us that faith is uniting and not dividing,” he said.
This is an edited version of a story that originally appeared on DOT.in.
The renovation of the old church is an example of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Prayer and Community. Visit Synodality to find out more
