HISTORIC stained glass church windows designed by a pioneer of the Arts and Craft’s movement have been restored.

The three windows, designed in 1870, at St Peter’s Church, Kirkbampton, were designed by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co, later called Morris & Co.

The firm was run by the seminal William Morris, one of the founders of the movement - which sought to revive traditional British textile arts and methods of production.

They were the first windows by the firm in the county and contain and feature designs by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris himself.

They were suffering from advanced paint loss with many details, like the faces of the angels, almost illegible.

A recent condition report for the windows revealed that surface dirt, condensation and biological growth on the window were damaging the fragile paint layers.

It was left to Church warden Elizabeth McCall, treasurer, Margaret Hay, and resident Stewart Kay to raise funds.

Elizabeth said they raised the thousands needed through a grant and fundraising, through an online donation website, after a friendly chat with a restorer.

She added: “We were approached by a restorer that said grants could be made available, she explained what was needed.

“The windows were very faded, now you can see the angel’s faces.”

The vicar, Rev Tudor Boddam-Whetham said: “It is great to have them to how they once looked and I’m very grateful for the way the community got together to raise funds.”

It is not the first time the condition of the windows was noted.

In 1880 William Morris, who was seminal in the Arts and Craft Movement, and who company made the windows, wrote to his friend George Howard, 9th earl of Carlisle, complaining about the loss of paint in the church’s paintings - with the damp conditions making matters worse.