PARISHIONERS of the Sacred Heart Church in Minehead will be taking the final step tomorrow to raising £10,000 for the repair of some precious windows.

The church, in Townsend Road, contains a complete set of high quality stained glass windows, designed and made by Hardman and co of Birmingham and installed between 1899 and 1907.

But after more than 100 years, the windows were in need of cleaning and care, so for the past year the parish has been raising money for this expert work. 

It is holding a Christmas Market, from 10am to 2pm in the Church Hall, as the last event to finally raise the £10,000 needed. After maintenance, all the windows have been replaced and restored to their former glory.

Pugin produced designs and encouraged John Hardman Jnr when he set up his  own business making stained glass windows for many churches and places of worship such as Tewkesbury Abbey, Worcester Cathedral and the chapel of Arundel  Castle. 

The Hardmans made glass for the Houses of Parliament, going on to repair and replace windows damaged during World War Two.

In the Sacred Heart church, the windows in the main aisle show the Virgin  Mary. Other windows are scenes from the life of Christ together with saints and bishops and figures with particular links to the church and its history.  One is of St Richard of Chichester in recognition of the first priest in Minehead, Richard Chichester.