Waiting for a miracle

The saga of the Brattleboro's First Baptist Church and its Tiffany window appeared on page one of today's Brattleboro Reformer. Current rumor is that someone has pledged $37,500 in matching dollars. Another pledged $10,000. Meanwhile money continues to arrive. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a plan as to what will eventually happen to the window. It would be great if Brattleboro citizens could purchase the window and move it to a more visible site.

I know there are groups of concerned Brattleboro citizens looking into what can be done to keep the Tiffany window in Brattleboro. The question is if $75,000 was raised and used to purchase the window, what would then happen to the Church and to the window? Initially the Church would have money to make some of its much-needed repairs but would that be enough? Should the window be removed and placed in a more visible spot since it currently can only be seen from the inside of the Church (i.e. it is not the window facing Main Street)?

The media generated around the potential sale have raised awareness to many issues:

1. What stake do we have in preserving public art?
2. What is the public's role in preserving treasures in New England Houses of Worship?
3. How are we responding to the plight of those left homeless in the Brattleboro area? (Note: while the Baptist Church provides the space for the "Overflow Shelter", volunteers from all the Houses of Worship have been supplying food and staff)
4. Is there a better way to utilize the space in the Houses of Worship so that income can be generated (eg. rent the acoustically beautiful sanctuary in the Baptist Church for a school music program)?

I don't think there are simple answers. But there is definitely a need for more discussion.

Waiting for a miracle - Brattleboro Reformer