AN APPEAL is being launched to raise £40,000 to pay for to repair weather-damaged stained glass windows at St Giles Church, Sidbury.

AN APPEAL is being launched to raise £40,000 to pay for to repair weather-damaged stained glass windows at St Giles' Church, Sidbury.

The windows at risk are the great east window of the chancel and those round the south side of the church to the west window in the tower.

Allan Andrews, St Giles' churchwarden said: "These are the windows which have been subjected to the worst of the weather.

"Damage has been caused to both the ironwork, stonework and to the glass.

"In addition some of the past repairs have been undertaken using the wrong materials. This has caused further damage to the stonework.

"Many of the small panes of glass in the windows are cracked and some are coming out of the lead. This is very old glass and in many cases very valuable and so will need specialist treatment."

Some of the stained glass in St Giles Church is attributed to Charles Eamer Kempe, the noted Victorian stained glass artist, who was strongly influenced by 16th century stained glass design.

Total cost of the work is estimated at £40,000 and although part of this cost will be met through church funding, the remaining money will have to be raised locally.

The appeal committee, set up to raise funds, will be organising money-making activities in Sidbury during 2009.