ST. LOUIS — Boston College has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Urshan University, alleging that the Missouri-based institution reneged on a mutual gift agreement to transfer 13 historic stained-glass windows from a vacant seminary chapel to Boston College.
The Jesuit university claims the windows, which feature depictions of Catholic saints and martyrs, are at risk of neglect and vandalism if not preserved.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court on Nov. 14 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
It centers on a September 2024 agreement in which Urshan committed to transferring the windows to Boston College in exchange for a $27,000 donation.
Boston College planned to restore and prominently display the artifacts as part of its collection of Jesuit and Catholic art and history, according to the complaint.
However, Urshan allegedly backed out of the deal just weeks before the scheduled transfer, opting instead to pursue a property sale with AJE Capital LLC that included the windows.
"The Windows are unique and religiously significant, beautifully portraying Jesuit saints and martyrs recognized by the Catholic Church," the complaint states. "As such, the Windows carry particular value to Boston College, a Jesuit, Catholic educational institution seeking to preserve significant Jesuit and Catholic artifacts and history."
Boston College asserts it has already spent more than $20,000 on preparations to remove and restore the windows, including contracting Emil Frei and Associates, a St. Louis-based stained-glass restoration firm.
The university accuses Urshan of breaching their agreement by refusing access to the property and rescinding the deal without justification.
"The windows are not only artistically significant but also serve as a profound representation of Jesuit history and devotion,” the complaint states.
Installed in 1923 at the former St. Stanislaus Seminary in St. Louis County, the windows depict scenes such as the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, and the martyrdom of Jesuit saints in 16th-century Japan, the complaint states.
The seminary, once a hub for training Catholic priests, ceased operations in 1971. Urshan or its predecessor entities subsequently owned the property, which has remained vacant since 2019. Boston College argues that the windows are now vulnerable to further deterioration and vandalism due to the property’s state of disrepair.
The lawsuit claims Urshan breached the contract by failing to exclude the windows from the property sale, as stipulated in their agreement.
Boston College alleges Urshan’s actions were influenced by AJE Capital’s plans to seek tax credits tied to the property’s redevelopment, which could be jeopardized by removing the historic artifacts.
Boston College argues that monetary damages alone cannot address the harm caused by Urshan’s decision, emphasizing the windows’ unique historical and religious significance.
The university is seeking a court order requiring Urshan to fulfill its contractual obligations and allow for the windows’ removal and preservation.
Boston College is represented by Winthrop B. Reed III and Kolten C. Elis of Lewis Rice in St. Louis.
The plaintiff's attorney did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division case number: 4:24-cv-01523