Closed Church Finds New Purpose as Part of Renaissance on the North Side

St. John the Evangelist, the oldest church in Syracuse, will soon become home to a three-generation family business – Brennan Stained Glass Studios.

SYRACUSE, NY (11/05/2010)(readMedia)-- St. John the Evangelist, the oldest church in Syracuse, will soon become home to a three-generation family business – Brennan Stained Glass Studios. Scott Brennan, president of Brennan Stained Glass Studios made the announcement earlier today with Deputy Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development Ben Walsh and members of the Roman Catholic Diocese.

"With the formal closing of St. John the Evangelist, we now have a new purpose and new future for this beautiful historic church," according to Monsignor Neal Quartier, Rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the parish priest for St. John the Evangelist and Cathedral Parish.

Brennan expressed his gratitude to the parishioners of St. John the Evangelist, the Future of St John's Committee, Bishop Cunningham and Vicar General Robert Yeazel for their support of his family's desire to relocate to this magnificent church.

"I have pledged to help the parish continue to do its good work on the North Side and I am inviting everyone to consider this magnificent church as a destination for the art of stained glass. St John the Evangelist will continue gracing the skyline of our city where it has been a critical part of this neighborhood for more than 100 years", said Brennan.

During 2011, the business will move and expand as a teaching studio is added to the church. In its present location on W. Genesee Street, there is a hot-glass teaching studio that will be brought to the N. State Street location. A working studio will be on the ground level of the building and the sanctuary, with its beautiful stained glass windows and murals, will become a visitor center.

Officials from St. Joseph's Hospital and CenterState CEO joined Monsignor Quartier and Deputy Commissioner Walsh in welcoming Brennan Stained Glass Studios to its new home at St. John the Evangelist. "We are excited to support an entrepreneurial model for re-purposing St. John the Evangelist," said Deputy Commissioner Walsh.