St Mary's Church Wreay West Gable Windows Restoration

Restoration of a unique set of stained glass windows some set in alabaster frames. St Mary's was built in 1842 and designed and funded by Sarah Losh, a local landowner. It is based upon the basilica churches of Northern Italy that she had visited.

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St Mary’s Church at Wreay is an outstanding building built in 1842 under the personal direction of a local patron, Sarah Losh. Using local labour she created a highly original work – the product of her exuberant imagination. She based the design on the Romanesque churches that she saw in Northern Italy on her ‘grand tour’. She did not use conventional Christian symbolism but instead filled the church with images of nature from flowers to fossils, from bats to butterflies. The Parochial Church Council together with the congregation and the Friends of St Mary’s are dedicated to maintaining this unique structure in the most sustainable way. The challenge that we are now facing is the restoration of 18 arched top windows that step up the west gable. They are filled with stained glass set in alabaster frames - possibly a feature that is unique to St Mary’s. Time and weather has taken its toll and now is the moment to restore them. The cost of this work is over £80,000. Applications have been made to a number of funding bodies but even if all these are successful and after a considerable contribution from the church itself we still require a further £25,000. Which is where you can help! Please help us to restore this unique building so that future generations can admire and be inspired by Sarah Losh’s unique creation.

Story

"A priceless historical building, designed by the extraordinary Sarah Losh, St Mary's is uniquely valuable for its architecture, decoration and distinctive windows." Jenny Uglow, author of The Pinecone.

The 18 stained glass windows with 10 set in an alabaster framework are unique to St Mary’s - the creation of a visionary woman, Sarah Losh, in 1842. They depict natural forms - flowers, insects and fossils.

After 180 years they are in need of restoration at a cost in excess of £80,000. Alongside grant aid applications and the local church’s own funds there is still an outstanding £25,000 required.

This is where you can help. Your donation will help towards the restoration of these unique windows and ensure that St Mary's is kept open in good condition for all visitors and worshippers to enjoy and be inspired by.

“Some caution will be needed in repairing such of the windows as are made of alabaster which is exceptionally brittle.” Sarah Losh 1842

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Donation summary

Total
£100.00
+ £25.00 Gift Aid
Online
£100.00
Offline
£0.00
Direct
£100.00
Fundraisers
£0.00

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