{"id":105,"ordinal":3,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:58:29","content_modified":"2026-04-17 19:58:29","featured":1,"title":"Stained Glass in Places of Worship","creator":"Marian Jensen and Richard Gibson","description":"<p>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.\r\n\r\nMany 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.\r\n\r\nAlthough 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.”\r\n\r\nFor 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.\r\n\r\nThese 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</p>","postscript_text":"","tour_img":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/61912d973192179d1ce548ceb87190a6.jpg","items":[{"id":2053,"title":"St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Butte","latitude":46.003944799999999304418452084064483642578125,"longitude":-112.52822809999997843988239765167236328125,"thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/61912d973192179d1ce548ceb87190a6.jpg","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/61912d973192179d1ce548ceb87190a6.jpg","subtitle":"935 Utah","address":"941 Utah Avenue, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":3449,"title":"Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church","latitude":45.99159449999999793590177432633936405181884765625,"longitude":-112.4866292378038536980966455303132534027099609375,"thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/322f9fdb5dc84d42bf177a3c13a49721.jpg","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/322f9fdb5dc84d42bf177a3c13a49721.jpg","subtitle":"2100 Continental Drive","address":"2100 Continental Drive","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":2059,"title":"Immaculate Conception Church","latitude":46.01636284349043393149258918128907680511474609375,"longitude":-112.555256187915802001953125,"thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/e92b8018ff905e9c0cbf9495bb5802a5.jpg","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/e92b8018ff905e9c0cbf9495bb5802a5.jpg","subtitle":"1200 Caledonia","address":"410 North Western Avenue, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":1977,"title":"Trinity United Methodist Church (decommissioned)","latitude":46.0255413088221843054270721040666103363037109375,"longitude":-112.53619372844696044921875,"thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/3aab3ad1009a9aa8a8fcf35e1004ca5d.jpg","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/3aab3ad1009a9aa8a8fcf35e1004ca5d.jpg","subtitle":"971 North Main","address":"971 North Main Street, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":3451,"title":"St. Mark's Lutheran Church","latitude":46.0110035000000010541043593548238277435302734375,"longitude":-112.5392882000000014386387192644178867340087890625,"thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/a3eb004b88082cd434fdaa3707de007d.jpg","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/a3eb004b88082cd434fdaa3707de007d.jpg","subtitle":"223 South Montana Street","address":"223 S. Montana Street","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":1997,"title":"St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church","latitude":46.0111940999999973200829117558896541595458984375,"longitude":-112.5415031999999655454303137958049774169921875,"thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/44f012af333dc58a7d2c0ada0c5b52d9.jpg","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/44f012af333dc58a7d2c0ada0c5b52d9.jpg","subtitle":"329 West Mercury Butte National Historic Landmark District","address":"329 West Mercury Street, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":3450,"title":"Congregation B'nai Israel Temple","latitude":46.011525100000000065847416408360004425048828125,"longitude":-112.54945060000000012223608791828155517578125,"thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/70787fe769156073e6edf2c8e00c9234.jpg","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/70787fe769156073e6edf2c8e00c9234.jpg","subtitle":"327 West Galena","address":null,"custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":1963,"title":"St. John's Episcopal Church","latitude":46.013124500000003536115400493144989013671875,"longitude":-112.541047899999966830364428460597991943359375,"thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/64e8f9f287375b4e69c67800aca24c21.jpg","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/64e8f9f287375b4e69c67800aca24c21.jpg","subtitle":"15 North Idaho Street","address":"15 North Idaho Street, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":1881,"title":"First Baptist Church, Butte (decommissioned)","latitude":46.01359619999998784578565391711890697479248046875,"longitude":-112.5396266999999852487235330045223236083984375,"thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/5f4e060268a259c61f7869a060578868.jpg","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/5f4e060268a259c61f7869a060578868.jpg","subtitle":"201 West Broadway","address":"201 West Broadway Street, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":2009,"title":"Mountain View Methodist Episcopal Church (decommissioned)","latitude":46.01532863904645154207173618488013744354248046875,"longitude":-112.5397106462893361822352744638919830322265625,"thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/23c1cb3ab8f5081df39a86027778276e.jpg","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/23c1cb3ab8f5081df39a86027778276e.jpg","subtitle":"301 North Montana Street","address":"301 North Montana Street, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}}]}