PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
MONTPELIER HISTORY PRESERVED … A 132-year-old stained-glass window, originally dedicated in 1894 at the First United Brethren in Christ Church on Empire Street in Montpelier, has been restored and installed in the chapel of the Arbor Church in Spring Arbor, Michigan. The restored window will be dedicated on April 3, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
SPRING ARBOR, MI – A piece of Williams County history has been preserved and put back into use. A 132-year-old multi-paneled stained-glass window, originally dedicated in 1894 at the First United Brethren in Christ church in Montpelier, Ohio, has been installed in the chapel of The Arbor Church at 120 E. Main St., Spring Arbor, Michigan.
The window served several Montpelier congregations at 220 Empire Street for over a century, including the Evangelical United Brethren, Church of the Nazarene, and House of Prayer communities.
The window’s preservation also maintains a link to the pioneer history of Northwest Ohio.
Though now only barely readable, inscriptions on the glass recognize Samuel, William, and Thomas Waterston, along with their wives and children, who were the primary financial supporters of the 1894 brick church building.
The brothers were the sons of local pioneers Alexander and Janet Waterston. Installing these memorial panes was a common practice of the era, permanently acknowledging the families whose financial contributions made the sanctuary possible.
The window’s journey to Michigan began in late 2025. The original Montpelier church had been vacant for 16 years and was slated for demolition. During an online auction for the building’s stained-glass windows, a representative from The Arbor Church identified one specific window setting that fit the dimensions needed for their chapel renovation.
The 132-year-old glass was purchased on the final day of the auction.
Read more: Williams County Commissioners Approve Lower Bid for Empire Street Landbank Parcel
The project became a reality through more than 1,500 hours of volunteer labor. Over the winter of 2025-2026, an experienced stained-glass worker and a team of local volunteers cleaned and rebuilt the panes.
To ensure the window’s longevity, a local artisan woodworker crafted walnut trim and 180 custom oak clips to secure the panes in place.
The window was purchased to add a sense of history and elegance to the chapel, particularly for small weddings and funerals. While the project resulted in the rescue of the stained-glass window setting, the primary intent was to enhance the worship space.
“After over 100 years of beauty shining through the windows to worshippers and then nearly two decades sitting in an abandoned church building in Montpelier, we are excited for the beauty of the windows to again reflect the glory of God in the chapel here at The Arbor Church,” said Lead Pastor John Lane.
The newly installed window will be officially dedicated during a ceremony on April 3, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the chapel of The Arbor Church at 120 E. Main St., Spring Arbor, Michigan.
The dedication is open to the public and will take place immediately prior to the church’s Good Friday Tenebrae service at 6 p.m. in the Worship Center.