By By SHERRY DIGMON
Advance Staff Writer
It started with a question.
When the Rev. Wesley Channell was still fairly new to First Presbyterian Church in Atmore, he was walking through the sanctuary one day and began wondering about the stained glass windows.
And so he asked, "Who are they?"
He asked Hattie Maxwell and Juanita Smith. Channell said the research took Maxwell and Smith to family members, sometimes in search of cousins, and a time or two to cemeteries. They sought out histories and photographs.
Shelly Williams got involved, putting together the information, editing, arranging.
Bert Rice updated the church's history.
From Channell's question has grown a booklet that gives a history of each stained glass window – who gave it, who it was given in memory of if applicable, and the meaning behind it – as well as a color picture of each window.
Today, Sunday, the church will celebrate a rededication service in gratitude for the gifts. As Channell said in the booklet, so many people have given so many gifts to the church – furniture and furnishings, brick and mortar, and tireless service.
First Presbyterian Church booklets will be available at the church for $5 each to help defray the cost of printing.