We are all familiar with the stained glass in our historical churches of Detroit, but we often take these pieces of artwork for granted, some dating back to the 1880s in the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit. Ste. Anne’s stained glass was done by Friederichs and Staffin, a business that was once the go to company for stained glass installations in churches, many of which still to this day boast Friederichs’ craftsmanship. Or even the works at St. Joseph Shrine dating back to the 1870s done by Mayer & Company.

We were given the opportunity to meet the team at Sevonty Restoration LLC led by Andrea Sevonty. Between Andrea Sevonty, staff artist and glass painter Sarah Grossman, and Andrea’s mentor Tom Newton, they helped us learn what is truly an old-world creation. Besides getting the colored glass today from a state-of-the-art glass company, everything else the Sevonty team does is still very much from a rich tradition of glass makers.

We also got the chance to meet with Paul Diehl. His grandfather and father were George and Gerald Diehl, the father/son team comprising the Architectural Firm of Diehl & Diehl Architects, Inc. (1923 to 1994). Paul is also the descendant of stained glass window makers on his mom’s side, Friederichs and Staffin, which was later renamed the Detroit Stained Glass Works.

The Principal at CM Partners Architects Mary Clare McCormick sat with us and discussed how earlier in her career she worked at the iconic architect firm of Diehl and Diehl Architects. McCormick shared with us historical rare onion skin drawings from meetings between Cardinal Mooney and Diehl that would take place on Saturday mornings. Diehl and Diehl is credited with the design and building of many of the Gothic style churches that shape Detroit's landscape; none more well-known than the mother house, Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Woodward, the seat of the Archdiocese.

We’re delighted to share this artistry and its historical significance in our film, Detroit: The City of Churches.