An Afternoon of Decorative Arts

Friday, August 7, 2026

During the late 19th century a religious fervor swept across the United States that led to a proliferation of church building and ornamentation. Essex’s National Register of Historic Places-listed Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church serves as the perfect venue to explore this topic, as it features 11 early-20th-century stained glass lancet windows. Join AARCH, renowned stained glass specialist Julie Sloan, and art conservator Emily Gardner Philips in this quaint and inviting Gothic Revival-style church for an exploration into stained glass, paint conservation, and the decorative arts. We will learn about the history, care, and maintenance of stained-glass windows and the role that art conservators play in historic preservation. Gain insightful knowledge for deciphering the tell-tale marks of stained-glass window artists and learn more about the world of art conservation in this deep exploration of the decorative arts.

Guides for this experience include stained glass specialists Julie Sloan and Emily Gardner Phillips. The symposium starts at 1 PM and ends at 4:30 PM.

The fee is $35 for AARCH members and $50 for non-members. This event is first come, first served.

This project is funded, in part, by grants from the National Trust Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Historic Preservation Education Foundation.

Photo courtesy of Julie Sloan.