4 minute read
Preserving History
PRESERVING HISTORY
Delphian’s RenovationChapel
In 1932, Delphian’s building was constructed by Oregon’s Novitiate of St. Francis Xavier. Two years later, they added the beautiful, three-story chapel. It features seventeen large, hand-painted stained glass windows, which were built in the traditional way--each individual piece of glass is held together by lead strips called casings.
Since the Delphian School purchased the building in 1974, the chapel has become a treasured performing arts space known for its breathtaking aesthetics and inspiring acoustic qualities.
The chapel is now almost a hundred years old, and has been affected by both gravity and the weather. Thus, with great excitement, we launched a project of extensive restorations and upgrades in March 2025.
The project includes improvements in every corner, from adding technical performance equipment and lighting to repairing the ceiling beams, replacing the flooring, and restoring each stained glass window to its original splendor.
This chapel restoration was made possible by a bequest from Delphian supporters Geoffrey and Susana Hegeman, passionate advocates of the Delphian School and its role in effective education. We are very grateful for their support.
Due to the sheer size of the windows, they will be restored in stages, with just a few repaired at a time. As the project progresses, we encourage visitors to look past the scaffolding and dust and continue to tour and enjoy the chapel, knowing it is getting the care and attention that the beautiful space deserves as it prepares for the next century of its life.
Time, Gravity, and Weather
Window Restoration Process
1) Document, label, photograph, and remove each window from its frame before packaging and shipping to the Willet Hauser stained glass restoration studio in Minnesota.
2) Map out and capture all the details with tracings, photographs, and charcoal rubbings in the studio. These documents will ultimately serve as the reassembly guide.
3) Restore and reassemble each window with new lead, using original materials wherever possible and replacing broken pieces as needed.
4) Return and install the restored windows into their original frames and add clear exterior storm windows to protect the stained glass from the weather in the future. Additionally, we will install exterior lights to illuminate the colored panes during evening performances.
Did you know?
The ceiling beams, which feature continuous oil stenciling on both sides, have suffered water damage due to leaks. They will be refinished as part of the restoration process, and the stencil work will be repainted.
The decorative floral shapes lining the ceiling, called “corbels,” were initially painted in great detail. The chapel corbels will be painted and restored to their original beauty as part of the restoration.
The building and chapel did not have bricks for their first twenty-one years. The exterior of the building looked this way until 1955, when the face was redesigned and the bricks were added.
The chapel blueprints were designed and drawn by hand with intricate details.
Some lights have already been installed to illuminate the apse windows for evening performances. Above are two different evening performances, one with the lights off and one with the lights on.
Grammy award-winning musician Chick Corea recorded his third solo piano album, Delphi I, released in 1979, in Delphian’s chapel.
