Huge war memorial window costing £100,000 refitted at church

First World War memorial window. Pictures: David Bale (Image: Archant)

The beautiful east chancel window at St Nicholas Church in North Walsham is a registered war memorial.

And thanks to the people of the town, a grant from the War Memorials Trust and the Church Commissioners' chancel fund it has been restored.

The original window was dedicated by the Bishop of Norwich on April 13, 1921.

But by 2015 the glass had sagged and buckled and it was at a point where the panes could start to break.

The stained glass window has been refitted at St Nicholas Church, North Walsham. Pictures: Rev Paul Cubitt (Image: Archant)

It was taken down for restoration in August last year, and the scaffolding came down last week.

Gill Cartwright, a member of St Nicholas' parochial church council, said: 'We think the people of North Walsham should be very proud of their fundraising achievement.

'Our window is massive, a most beautiful stained glass window, not the usual kind of stone monument found in town and village squares.

'At the end of the Great War the people of North Walsham wanted a memorial to the 99 men who lost lives, and the window was placed in the church.'

Gill Cartwright by the refitted stained glass window at St Nicholas Church, North Walsham. Pictures: Rev Paul Cubitt (Image: Archant)

It cost £1,330 plus a £60 fixing cost, and was made by stained glass designer Horace Wilkinson.

The vicar, the Rev'd Canon Paul Cubitt said he now had peace of moind in that a dangerous window had been repaired.

He added: 'But it's more than that. It's a sign of renewal for the church and the community, in that broken things are getting restored.

'The tower was restored four years ago and the precinct behind the church will be repaved. It's all part of the transformation of North Walsham, not just the church.'

The scaffolding at the back of the church will be taken down later. Pictures: Rev Paul Cubitt (Image: Archant)

Fundraising was boosted by each town mayor making the appeal one of their charities, and various legacies from local people.

Nicholas Warns architects oversaw the project and the window was refurbished by stained glass conservationist Devlin Plummer.

The window will be re-dedicated by the Dean of Norwich Cathedral, The Very Rev Jane Hedges, at the civic service at 3pm on June 23.