Stained Glass in Places of Worship

10 Locations | Curated by Marian Jensen and Richard Gibson

Despite living in a rugged mining town, Butte residents of the early 1900s longed to create a sense of culture and beauty in their surroundings. The construction of five major churches and a synagogue in little more than two decades and within a six block area added grace and eloquence to the city’s demeanor. To add to that elegance, all of those churches, as well as some built subsequently, contained stained glass windows, most of which have been preserved.


Many of the buildings described here date from Butte’s early 1900s boom, and they reflect the community’s wealth. The standard wage for a Butte miner at that time was among the highest in the country for laboring jobs. While most miners could not afford to decorate their cottages with imported stained glass, their wages undoubtedly contributed to their places of worship being able to do so. Represented in Butte’s churches are windows by nationally known manufacturers from around the country, including artisans in Chicago, New York, Minneapolis, and San Francisco.


Although most houses of worship obtained their windows from prestigious designers, some windows may have been created and manufactured locally by Butte Art Stained Glass Works, self-described as the “only exclusive glass house in Montana ... manufacturing mosaic, stained and art glass figure work for churches, public buildings and residences.”


For a time Butte’s interest supported no less than five glass works or stores that supplied the materials for artisans. Eventually leaded, clear art glass, with and without beveling, seems to have gained appeal with Butte home builders and owners, diminishing the demand for stained glass.


These days the exterior of most stained glass windows is covered in plexiglass, making inside viewing preferable for observing the nuances of color and design. Most of the active churches listed here have websites that can be consulted for service times and contact information

Bishop John Brondel founded St. Joseph’s Parish in 1902 to serve the varied ethnic groups settling on Butte’s south side. Father P. A. Quesnel celebrated the parish’s first Mass in a makeshift public hall. In 1907, a combination parish church and school was built on Delaware Street, which served…
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The bright white façade of this stunning church, prominently located beneath Big Butte, serves as a beacon proclaiming the heart of Butte’s west side Catholic community. The Immaculate Conception Parish was created from the overflowing St. Patrick and St. Lawrence O’Toole parishes in 1906. The…
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Butte’s Lutheran community dates to 1888. As was the case with all denominations in Butte then, a burgeoning population both demanded and paid for new houses of worship. St. Mark’s, with its German and English cornerstone, reflects a northern European heritage. German immigrants were largely tradesmen, brewers, and business owners, likely able to raise funds readily.
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The oldest synagogue still in use in Montana, the Congregation B’nai Israel Temple was built in 1903. The Jewish community of Butte dates to 1875 when two immigrants arrived to open a fruit and cigar store and a restaurant. Butte’s first Mayor, Henry Jacobs, was one of the town’s earlier Jewish settlers.
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A small stone building erected on this site in 1881 was one of Butte’s first churches. After 1900, the church was remodeled several times, incorporating the original building into a much larger structure. When fire swept through the chancel in 1919, one of Butte’s first preservation projects…
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