Benefitting the greater Buffalo community through the sharing and preservation of the stained glass treasures of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Completed in the 1880s, the windows at Trinity Church of Buffalo have inspired and educated generations through the unique and beautiful stories they tell. This is one of only a few places in the world where renowned artists Louis Comfort Tiffany and John LaFarge worked side-by-side. Their twenty-one glowing windows testify to the birth of a new movement in stained glass.

Stained glass is often mistaken for a dying artform. But these windows give us an opportunity to keep the story of Buffalo and its role in the history of American arts and crafts alive. The magnificent windows illuminate the birth of a new approach to an old artistic medium, but they can do so much more in the time to come.

The Center of Glass & Light (COGL) is a nonprofit organization that exists to preserve this legacy, tell the story of the birth of a new kind of stained glass, and provide opportunities for the community to experience and enjoy this cultural treasure.

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Board member Megan McElfresh brings to the Center of Glass & Light her passion for the transformative power of stained glass. She is the Executive Director of the Stained Glass Association of America. (SGAA is a key organizational partner, also co-located at 371 Delaware Avenue.) Megan's expertise, deep connection to Trinity's windows and commitment to help us share these treasures with the broader community, combine to make her a compelling spokesperson and advocate for COGL's vision, goals and projects. Below are two informative videos in which she highlights the significance of Trinity's windows and the current need.

A woman with glasses speaking, with stained glass windows in the background, promoting a video about stained glass art in Buffalo featuring Trinity.
Colorful stained-glass window featuring a lamb with a halo, holding a flag and cross, set against a dark brick background.
Colorful stained-glass design featuring three interwoven circles and various colored glass pieces.
Stained glass window depicting a white dove with outstretched wings in the center.
Colorful stained-glass window with a geometric design featuring a central cross, surrounded by circular and ornate patterns with red, yellow, blue, green, and clear glass sections.
Colorful stained-glass window featuring a central blue and white spiral pattern surrounded by yellow circular designs and vibrant multicolored abstract shapes.