EXPERTS are restoring a York church’s stained glass window, after it was blown in during a storm earlier this year.

High winds damaged a large chunk of the central window over the altar at St Lawrence’s Church in Lawrence Street in February, leaving shattered glass on the floor.

Further glass around the hole was damaged before scaffolding could be put up to protect the rest.

The window – which was made in 1883 by the Knowles family of Stonegate but had become dilapidated – depicts the Crucifixion, and it was initially feared it might cost more than £30,000 to restore.

Iain Milne, a member of the church council, said yesterday that the final bill was still not known but was currently expected to come to about £18,000 to £20,000.

He said insurance would cover most of the cost, with the gap being filled by donations totalling more than £1,000 from well-wishers who had read the original article in The Press about the storm damage.

Mr Milne said some donors had not left their details, making it impossible to thank them individually, and so the church would like to thank them through The Press.

He said the stained glass was being restored by craftsmen and women at Barley Studios in Dunnington and the window was set to be reinstated by early October.

“There’s going to be a re-dedication service at 10am on Sunday, October 26 as part of the normal Sunday morning service, which will be conducted by the Reverend Dr David Efird, a senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of York,” he added. “All are welcome.”