A planning application could see plastic screens added to an historic church to help protect its windows from weathering.

St Michael’s Church, Main Road, Kirk Michael, dates from 1835, but has been the site of a church for centuries before then, it is also the final resting place of several of the island’s former bishops.

The application (20/01121/GB) is for alterations to the finish of windows on the church, one on the west-facing tower and a window on the east-facing side.

In support documents for the work, the panels are said to be necessary as at current, rainfall hits the windows and runs down the inside, causing damage to the fabric of the building.

It added: ’Rain waters enters the fibreglass void above the ceiling of the ground floor and runs across the plasterboard ceiling eventually dripping down onto the carpet below. Overnight, water can fill half of a two gallon bucket.

’Good quality polycarbonate sheeting over the glazed area onto hardwood frames secured into the sides of the window recess would prevent this reoccurring damage.’

The church is also home to many fine examples of stone crosses, mostly from the Norse period of rule in the island, as well as and the graves of Bishops Wilson, Hildesley, Mason, Crigan and Duesbury.