The iconic St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria – better known as the Cathedral of the Plains – is working to protect its 48 historic stained-glass windows.

The church has started a $155,000 project to refurbish the windows, which are valued at more than $1 million.

The 140-foot twin towers of the Cathedral on the prairie have made it one of the most well-known structures in Kansas. It serves about 480 families, who are paying for the window project through donations and fundraising.

The church was dedicated in 1911 and the windows were installed in 1916.

A plastic covering installed on the windows in the 1980s to protect them has grown opaque, preventing people from seeing the true beauty of the windows.

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Associated Press information from: The Wichita Eagle