Historic Stained-Glass Windows: A Gift Commemorating Candler Park’s African American History & an Opportunity for Good Stewardship
By Edi/th Kelman, Project Manager, Early Edgewood-Candler Park BiRacial History Project
This June, the First Existentialist Congregation installed four beautiful and historic stained-glass windows that now grace the Sanctuary. These windows come as a legacy-gift from the Antioch East Baptist Church, builders of this Old Stone Church 100 years ago.
The windows also serve to commemorate the 145-year presence of the Antioch East Congregation and families in our Candler Park and Edgewood neighborhoods, now that Antioch has relocated to Ellenwood.
These lovely windows are a gift to the neighborhood, enhancing this favorite community gathering place. First E and the BiRacial History Project ask every neighbor to join us as conscious community stewards in our effort to honor and care for these treasures.
The old stained-glass and the window frames are fragile. Hits on the glass and spills of any kind on the window ledges could create serious problems.
Please work with us, Neighbors. When you attend,
DO NOT PUT ANY OBJECTS IN THE STAINED-GLASS WINDOW AREAS: no candles, beverages, beer or soda cans, plants, flowers, cell phones, no-thing!!!
We know there is a re-learning curve here. We’re in this together! Let’s remind ourselves and each other to act as good stewards for these deep-rooted Legacy Windows.
Their presence offers meaningful evidence of First E & CPNO’s connections with Antioch East and the History Project over the past 14 years – of neighbors learning and working together to come to a measure of trust, and a deeper understanding of our linked stories in this neighborhood, this home-place treasured by so many since its settlement in the 1870s.