Well Janet, I don't really know why they did it that way. This was originally the front of the sanctuary, but 20 years ago they turned the entire room around and a ceiling was added to make this part into a narthex (entryway). The window was visible from the exterior but my daughter, who's 17 and been going to this church all her life, claims to never have noticed it. Most people didn't. Now we are reclaiming this space for the sanctuary again and constructing a new narthex behind the current building.
Will be great to see the progression as I look at your photos!