New stained glass window for 12th Century church

The stained glass is by artist Tom Denny and was fired by glaziers at Salisbury Cathedral

A new stained glass window, designed by an internationally acclaimed artist, has been unveiled in a 12th Century church.

The artwork by Thomas Denny has been installed in St John's Church in Tisbury, Wiltshire, as a memorial window.

It has taken more than a year to complete with each separate pane fired by glaziers at Salisbury Cathedral.

The £250,000 cost was raised through grants and donations, many in memory of loved ones whose names will be recorded in a special book.

"The possibility of making a great east window for St John's, Tisbury, was extraordinary," said Mr Denny.

"I like to use techniques and materials that were familiar to 14th or 19th Century stained glass artists, partly because they are deeply rewarding in themselves, but also because their use helps a new work of art to settle in an ancient setting."

The new east window replaces a former Victorian one, which was in a fragile condition

A structural inspection of the church in 2012 showed that repairs to the masonry were necessary, requiring the former Victorian east window to be removed.

After extensive consultation with heritage bodies, such as The Victorian Society, it was finally decided that it was too fragile to be replaced and a new window was needed.

Fundraising then began in earnest and Mr Denny was chosen as the artist.

His work can be seen in buildings and churches across the country and abroad, including Gloucester Cathedral, Tewkesbury Abbey, Malvern Priory and, most recently, Trinity Church, New York.

The theme of the window is "seeing", which Mr Denny said he "approached through passages from the Bible and through imagery of landscape and figures; it is a Wiltshire Epiphany".

The theme of the window is "seeing" with Jesus depicted healing a blind man in one image

The completion of the window has not only been a labour of love for the artist but also saw about 180 people pledging money in memory of a loved one, the names of whom will be recorded alongside personal epitaphs in a book of remembrance.

"It's been remarkable, it's been a wonderful thing because everybody came forward," said the chair of the east window committee, Sarah Douglas-Pennant.

"This was an opportunity for people to have a permanent place, which will hopefully last hundreds of years, to remember a beloved person who's died."

Some of the glass from the old east window has been salvaged and will be used for a new window overlooking the Lady Chapel in the north aisle.