A UNIQUE example of Jersey’s Irish history has been given a new lease of life thanks to a local bank.

Allied Irish Bank contributed £5,000 to the restoration work of the stained glass windows at St Mary’s and St Peter’s Church, and two restorers came to the Island last month to work on the project.

The windows, installed in Jersey’s first Irish church in Hue Street in 1925, are unique examples of the work of the influential Irish artist Harry Clark, of Clark & Sons of Dub-lin, and were moved to their present location in the 1980s when the church was rebuilt on Wellington Road.

The Rev Iain MacFirbhisigh, deacon of St Mary’s and St Peter’s Church, said that the windows were impressive examples of the Island’s Irish history and Clark’s work, which is famous throughout the world, and they should be preserved and on show for people to enjoy. ‘The windows are very special,’ he said. ‘Artistically they are remarkable, and to have any of them stored away for nobody to see is a tragedy.’

The windows depict the Irish saints St Patrick, St Brigit, St Columba and St Brendan, and Mr MacFirbhisigh said that they were best enjoyed in the morning light when there were no lights on in the church. ‘People are welcome to come and see the windows at any time,’ he said. ‘They are extra-ordinary and very nearly three-dimensional when you look at them closely.’

AIB are historic sponsors of the project, having contributed £30,000 to the restoration of the church in the 1980s, and they are keen to preserve the Island’s Irish history and the work of a popular Irish artist. ‘Harry Clark is an influential figure in Irish history and a popular figure in museums around the world,’ said Laurent Schmittbiel, marketing manager at AIB. ‘For Jersey this is a unique opportunity and a nice story of local history.’

The church is keen to find other sponsors to help make use of another Harry Clark window, known as a cinquefoil, which has not been used since the 1980s and unusually depicts Joseph with the baby Christ. ‘We are looking for other people to help fund a way to restore and display the cinquefoil in an appropriate way in church,’ said Mr MacFirbhisigh. ‘It would be fitting next year as it will be 25 years since the church was consecrated.’

Potential sponsors, or indeed anyone wanting more information about visiting the windows or helping with the cinquefoil project, can gain further information by calling St Mary’s and St Peter’s Catholic Church on 722841.

• Picture: The central roundel of the cinquefoil depicting Joseph with the Christ child Picture by David Ferguson (00597352)