A FIVE-YEAR £160,000 project to repair a historic church stained glass window has finally come to an end.

Bosses at St Cuthbert’s Church have proudly unveiled the refurbished east window in the church after its 120-year-old predecessor was in danger of falling out.

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The window was originally dedicated in 1878 but, in launching an appeal to raise the cash needed for the repairs in 2010, church warden Chris Rugg explained it had become increasingly fragile because of air pollution, traffic vibration and vandalism.

With the help of English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the deep pockets of generous congregation members at the Grade II-listed church, the stained glass window was repaired, cleaned and renovated by Padiham-based Pendle Stained Glass.

The main contractors for the stone work were Lloyd and Smith, of Oldham, whose stonemasons are successful international competitors in the art of stone carving.

A spokesman for the church said: “We are delighted with the result and thank the contractors particularly for their undoubted skill and for the respect they have shown throughout the building work.

“Thanks are also due to English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund, without whose support the stained glass window would have continued to deteriorate. “The fund is still open and anyone wishing to donate should contact the church wardens.”

The window has four panes depicting the light of St Cuthbert and other stories from the Bible, including the Lord’s supper, the shepherds and the angels, as well as the death of Jesus.

It is not known who designed or made it.

Leon Conway, manager of Pendle Stained Glass, said: “This was a medium-sized project for us that involved taking pieces of the window out and then replacing them.

“Some of it was completely re-leaded and some of the work was taking out the glass so the stonemasons could get at the stone.

“Other bits had to be repainted as well.

“Stained glass work hasn’t changed in more than 100 years so it is all done by hand and is very labour-intensive.”