A celebration service to mark the consecration of two freshly restored church windows has taken place at the Church of the Ascension, Whixley.
Both stunning windows were first installed in 1887,on either side of the Grade II listed building’s chancel.
And now they have been returned to their former glory, thanks to the hard work of the group spearheading the Whixley Heritage project, which was formed two years ago and which was responsible for securing grants and pledges from trusts, local businesses and parishioners who generously donated the necessary £37,000.
Priest, Revd Sarah Feaster compiled a programme of events, with contributions by the Easingwold Brass Band, members from the Collavoce Collective, Green Hammerton children's choir - and budding actors from the local school who performed a super mini - pageant on the lives of the eight saints portrayed in the windows. There were homemade muffins, mulled wine and bags of sweets for all the children to follow
The dedication of the windows was by Revd Richard Watson, whose affiliation to Whixley church goes back to when, as the son of the local Watson farming family, he sang in the choir, rang the bells, served at the altar and was a staunch member of the church and the local community before leaving and eventually becoming a priest, currently part of the team at All Saints church, Ilkley.
The church’s next project is the installation of a kitchen and a disabled toilet.