Stained glass removed from century-old church, preservationists allege, despite landmarking recommendation

Details of the stained-glass window above the altar at St. Adalbert Church taken in 2023 by researchers from Poland. (Polish Heritage 3D)

Right after celebrating new city protections for a century-old church, preservationists claim some of the building’s storied stained glass was removed anyway, in apparent disregard for those protections.

The church, St. Adalbert, 1650 W. 17th St., has been at the heart of a contentious fight between preservationists and the Archdiocese of Chicago since it closed in 2019. Tensions over the iconic Pilsen church arose in early August over the archdiocese removing its stained glass.