Restoring Radiance
CLC Stained Glass Window Project
Is now fully funded!!!
We CONTINUE to marvel at the generosity!
On Easter Sunday, April 5th, 2026, several months earlier than anticipated, the Restoring Radiance Committee made an incredible announcement to the CLC congregation. The Restoring Radiance project is fully funded!
CLICK HERE for Easter Sunday worship, April 5th.
How did this happen? It happened because of wonderfully generous CLC members and friends and the amazing partners who supported us through the grants that we were awarded.
And the blessings continued. After the project goal was met, CLC members made an additional gift to fund the refinishing of interior woodwork and peeling paint surrounding some of the windows, an important project beyond the scope of the stained-glass window restoration.
Thank you for your faithfulness and your generosity. And, thanks be to God.
Canton Lutheran Church is grateful for grants received from:
Mary Chilton Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution through the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation, Sioux Falls, SD - $15,000 (Phase I)
National Fund for Sacred Places - $185,245 matching grant (Phases II & III) https://www.fundforsacredplaces.org/
Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation - $1,000 (Phases II & III)
Outside of Deadwood Grant administered by the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission - $7,500 matching grant (Phases II & III)
Deadwood Fund Grant administered by the South Dakota State Historical Society - $15,000 matching grant (Phases II & III)
CLC Restoring Radiance Featured in the News - South Dakota News Watch article, April 3, 2025
Canton Lutheran Church Receives National Grant Funding
THANKS BE TO GOD!
Canton Lutheran Church has been awarded $185,245 from the National Fund for Sacred Places, a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Restoring Radiance Committee submitted the extensive grant application in late February. In June, the Committee was informed that CLC was among a limited number of applicants invited to submit an Additional Information Application. In July, that application was submitted. And on October 21st, the grant recipients were publicly announced!
Canton Lutheran is one of 30 organizations who will cumulatively receive over $8.7 million in funding this year. It is interesting to note that there are two other Lutheran Churches, both ELCA, who are also 2025 grant recipients. Those sister churches are in Kansas and Washington D.C. Canton Lutheran Church is the first South Dakota organization selected to receive this grant in the nine years this grant program has existed.
The National Fund for Sacred Places grant requires a dollar-for-dollar match, so CLC’s grant will cover half of the estimated cost for Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the CLC Restoring Radiance stained glass window restoration project. That means that we have much work to do … but what an incredibly amazing gift!
If you would like to learn more about this program and the 2025 grant recipients, visit https://www.fundforsacredplaces.org/.
The Restoring Radiance project is…
A comprehensive initiative aimed at restoring and protecting Canton Lutheran Church’s stained-glass windows in the sanctuary worship space, coordinated by the Restoring Radiance Committee, Executive Council, and other leaders. This endeavor is not merely about preserving beautiful artifacts; it is about maintaining the historical integrity of a building that has stood as a beacon of faith in our community for over a century, the congregation’s origins predating the building itself.
This effort of restoring CLC’s stained glass windows has been in process for well over a decade, and was reinvigorated in 2025. A committee of dedicated CLC members is eagerly taking on the task of guiding our congregation in this faithful project.
We trust that God continues to guide CLC in many and various ways, and that Christ’s love is shown in and through our building and congregation.
Work IS UNDERWAY
Restoring Radiance work started in late August 2025.
Joe Martinez is a master carpenter working for Willet Stained Glass Studios, the company CLC hired to restore our stained glass windows. Joe will serve as CLC’s primary restoration person. His work on the south-facing stained glass windows (Phase 1, see more info included on this page) began with the removal of the large window, then sending that window to the Willet Hauser studio for restoration.
The smaller windows on the south side have been restored! (See image of before and after) The beautiful colors shine with restored color, shining through the new exterior acrylic layer.
Phase 1
The work for Phase 1 of the Restoring Radiance project began at the end of August 2025, focusing on the restoration of the sixteen south-facing windows. The $191,547 cost for this first phase has already been FULLY secured through gifts from individuals and from a grant from the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation. How wonderfully generous! A strong beginning of a much larger effort.
Phases 2 & 3
Our plan is to complete Phases 2 & 3 in the summer and fall of 2026 and 2027. These phases include the 52 east- and west-facing windows. The combined cost of these phases is $370,491.
Connecting All Generations to Christ and Community
The Restoring Radiance stained glass window project is a vital initiative to preserve this legacy and continue CLC’s invaluable and varied service to the community. From the Food Pantry that has been so much a part of our history to one of the newest ministry called Brewed Theology, we seek to be a place where both history and community spirit are alive and thriving.
Our mission is to “Connect All Generations to Christ and Community” … for generations to come.
Bike to Worship - October 2025
The second annual “Bike to Worship” was great! We biked to CLC worship from Sioux Falls, with many people joining the ride along the route. This year it serves as a fun, mini-fundraiser for CLC’s Restoring Radiance stained glass window project. A portion of the donations will also go to support our important, local ministry partner Love INC (Canton).
We had a great time, of many ages joining in the ride and fundraising effort. Over $1,500 was raised. Thank you!
