All Saints Church began work in August to conserve its stained glass windows, to repair more than 150 years’ wear to the historic fabric of the building.
Many of the windows were made by foremost designers of the mid-Victorian era.
Scaffolding has been erected to the west end of the building buy the church will remain open for services while the work goes on and visitors will have an opportunity to see the restoration in progress on a heritage open day in September.
Most of the windows date from the original building, which was constructed between 1854-57 under the supervision of the architect George Edmund Street, a prominent figure in the Gothic revival movement.
Street designed the windows himself and commissioned prominent firms of the day to make them, notably William Wailes and Hardman and Company.
A survey of the windows commissioned by the Parochial Church Council at All Saints found that a number required attention.
Works will include repairing cracks or holes in glass and replacing some small panes. In one case a damaged quarrie, or small diamond-shaped pane in the background of a larger window, may be replaced with a painted replica
Other repairs include treating ferramenta, the iron grille or framework that holds stained glass in place, replacing leading that joins individual pieces of glass, repointing and adding new external wire guards that protect the windows.
Several smaller clerestory windows high in the nave of the church, with images of angels playing musical instruments, have been removed for repair.
Other larger windows including the great west window will be repaired in situ, using a mobile scaffolding tower. External scaffolding will also be used for re-pointing on this window and to inspect its tracery glazing and wire guards.
The great west window, which has four lights or principal glass panes and geometrical tracery, shows Christ in majesty. It was part of the original church design and when the church was extended in 1911 this window was taken down and re-sited further back.
The works, costing £70,000, have been funded by a benefactor.
Ken Smith, deputy church warden, said: “Most of these beautiful windows have been in place since the church was built in 1857 and are suffering from age related deterioration, some badly. It is critical that we repair them now otherwise at least some may be lost to us irretrievably.”
Father Jeremy Harris said: “The stained-glass window, like an Orthodox icon, can draw the human into the divine story. All Saints, Boyne Hill is blessed with windows that tell the Gospel stories of Jesus’ life from His birth to His Ascension.
“One window depicts the road and supper at Emmaus. The viewer sees Jesus taking, blessing, and then breaking the bread and the disciples are drawn into the hope of resurrection, leading them to share that story with others. The people of All Saints give thanks for the benefactors who have enabled the restoration to take place so that future generations can be encouraged to see the hope of resurrection life within these glorious windows.”
Eucharist services at All Saints will continue as usual at 10am on Sundays and Wednesdays. The church will be open to visitors for a heritage open day on Sunday 13th September from 12-5.30pm.