A CHURCH is calling for one final push to raise enough money to restore a historic stained glass window in Radcliffe.

St Thomas and St John’s Church, in Blackburn Street, needs to raise £8,000 in order to pay for the civic window to be put back together.

The 80-year-old window, which depicts Radcliffe’s coat of arms, was removed from the old town hall when the building was decommissioned and has been in storage at Bury Museum ever since.

So far, about £7,000 has been raised for the restoration, with work due to start as soon as the full amount can be paid.

Carol Cain, a committee member for the generation of the church, said a huge thank you to everyone who had helped out with the funding up to now.

She said: “The people of Radcliffe have been very generous so far and I would like to thank for that.

“We have about £7,000 now but need to get to £8,000 before work can begin on restoring the window.

“We have nearly reached our target so I urge people to help us get over the line in one final effort.”

She added that although some donations have come from people attending the church, it has been other citizens of Radcliffe who wanted to help out.

She said: “I think that people care in Radcliffe. Lots of individuals and businesses have helped out and even the children have been helping out.

“The whole community has come together.”

The decision to restore the window was taken after the church celebrated its 150th anniversary two years ago when a stained glass window was sought to put inside.

With costs too high, it was suggested that the old window from the town hall be used which was then discovered in Bury Museum.

The window is currently waiting to be repaired at RS Glass Designs, in Bolton, and diocese leaders in Manchester have agreed in principle to the installation once the experts have completed the restoration.

It was donated by industrialist Walker Allen in 1935 to celebrate Radcliffe becoming a borough – but no plans to take care of it were put in place when the town hall was decommissioned.

Mrs Cain added that the plans have been designated to promote the window as a symbol of Radcliffe’s civic pride — and to protect the artefact from any further damage.

If you would like to help restore the window, please make your donation to the following: St Thomas and St John’s Church, account number 40797979, sort code 20-16-08.

For more information on the fundraising campaign please contact Carol Cain on 0161 7248991.