THE grandest stained glass window in Corowa's Anglican church is at its brightest in a century after a four-month $25,000 restoration.
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The three-panelled sanctuary window, visible from the main entrance of the 1880 church, has been repaired by Chiltern leadlight specialist Hilton Newitt.
The window, dedicated to members of explorer Hamilton Hume's family, is the seventh at the church to be restored by Mr Newitt.
"The existing lead in the panels was past redemption, it was in a very frail state," Mr Newitt said.
"There were holes, here and there, stuffed up with putty.
"You could put your finger against the edge of the lead and bend it without any force."
The 4m high and 1.8m wide window was dismantled after Mr Newitt used tracing paper over the top of it to create a working plan.
Five to 10 per cent of the window's glass was replaced and parts were stained anew by central Victorian craftsman Gerhard Emmerichs.
Mr Newitt described the project as stressful.
"The end result has always a great satisfaction, but it is demanding in terms of dealing with materials that have been created by someone 100 years ago, or possibly more than that, that didn't have the facilities for precision possible today," Mr Newitt said.
St John's Anglican Church minister Rex Everett said parishioners were thrilled with the finished window which was clearer after the removal of cement slurry remnants.
Overall $75,000 has been raised through donations for the restoration of the windows with a further $18,000 to be spent on the remaining two over the next six months.
"These windows have been fabulous in this church for more than 100 years and they will be fabulous now for another 100 years," Reverend Everett said.
"They make the church a special place and just as we've enjoyed them and past generations have enjoyed them, the fact now we can do something for the future generations is important."
A special thanksgiving service will be held next year to mark the end of the window restoration.