The stained glass windows at St. Patrick’s Anglican Church along Market Street in Parkersburg were blown into the church during storms that hit the area in the evening of April 29. Crews with Bailey General Contracting Inc. of Parkersburg were at the church the next day boarding up the window. Church officials are looking at possibly replacing the window and are raising money. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — A Parkersburg church on Market Street is looking at eventually being able to replace a stained glass window that was destroyed in a recent storm.

St. Patrick’s Anglican Church sustained major storm damage April 29 during a storm that came through the area, said Father Gregory Myers.

“The Nativity window was blown back into the building,” he said. “We are thankful that no one was injured and for the quick response of friends, neighbors, and the Parkersburg Police Department to help secure the property.”

Workers with Bailey General Contracting Inc. of Parkersburg were at the church the following day boarding up the window.

“We have provided a temporary covering while we evaluate the next steps with restoring or replacing the stained glass window,” Myers said. “We have a few artisans who work with stained glass coming in next week to help us.

“We are still accepting donations towards both the window replacement and repairs to the roof.”

He was not sure when the windows were originally installed, but the church was built in 1894.

The church has been saving for a new roof after numerous attempts at replacing or patching spots were not enough, but the last couple rounds of storms have blown off more shingles, Myers said.

He is not sure the church will be able to replace the window to something like what they originally had.

“We are not sure what kind of window we will be able to replace the old one with yet,” Myers said. “We have folks sorting the stained glass to see what is salvageable.

“We should know more later this week.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to collect donations.

“We appreciate the community’s concern and encouragement that we have received since Tuesday’s storm,” Myers said.

Services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday will be held in the chapel in the back of the church for now while the church gets cleaned up.

“Although we are in the season of Easter and celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus the scripture assigned to read for Morning Prayer was from Luke Chapter 2 : ‘And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.’

“Although the Nativity window is sadly gone, we always have Emmanuel (God is with us),” Myers said.