A stained glass window is being restored thanks to a bequest.

Manx National Heritage, the charity responsible for the care and promotion of the Isle of Man’s natural and cultural heritage, is helping the Friends of Jurby Church in their efforts to conserve the window at St Patrick’s Church.

The 19th Century stained glass window depicts St Patrick baptising St Maughold.

It was installed as a memorial to William Farrant of Ballamoar, whose family lived in the parish of Jurby until the end of the 19th Century.

Edmund Southworth, director of Manx National Heritage, said: ’We are delighted that work to restore the William Farrant memorial window is well underway.

’Led by the Friends of Jurby Church, a specialist contractor was recently engaged to carefully remove the glass and lead-work, with all 18 stained glass panels now removed and undergoing conservation.’

Stained glass windows are vulnerable to problems including rain penetration and condensation. Mr Southworth added: ’While the fields of colour in stained glass windows are commonly viewed from a distance and may appear to have survived the ravages of time, the reality is often very different. Stained glass is fragile and vulnerable.

’This particular window in Jurby Church was south facing and suffering the impact of over a century’s weather.’

The window is now undergoing conservation by Ballasalla-based stained glass craftsman Robert Bullock.

Sandra Kerrison of the Friends of Jurby Church said: ’The stained glass windows in Jurby Church are significant to the history and heritage of the parish of Jurby and of the Isle of Man, and the Friends have made the restoration of the beautiful St Patrick and St Maughold window the focus of their fund-raising for the past two years.

’It has been fascinating to see from Robert Bullock’s photographs the skills and craftsmanship involved in the restoration and we are looking forward to seeing the window back in Jurby Church later in the summer.’

Manx National Heritage has been able to support more than 20 community heritage projects across the Isle of Man in recent years due to a generous bequest by the late John Donald Collister.

Following a public consultation, the trustees of Manx National Heritage decided to allocate a significant amount of funding to local heritage in ’Donny’ Collister’s memory.

Mr Southworth said: ’Mr Collister’s bequest was remarkably generous and as well as supporting the charity’s priorities it has made possible some really impressive community heritage projects across the Isle of Man.’