IT took more than a decade to come to fruition and cost £70,000 to install, but visitors to Wareham’s Lady St Mary Church are in no doubt it was worth the wait.

The new West Window, designed by master glazier Andrew Johnson, is one of the largest stained glass windows installed in a Dorset church in recent years.

Verger Clive Cherrett, who is also Lady St Mary’s fabric and fittings officer, worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure it became a reality.

And, as he explained to the Daily Echo, the West Window’s installation may have averted a possible disaster.

“When the stone mason and the artist got up there, they found it was only the polycarbonate sheeting outside, installed in the 1980s, that was stopping the old window from being blown in,” said Clive.

“The lead had become so soft, it was only the plastic holding the window in place.”

Clive’s wife Pat, who also proved instrumental in commissioning the window, said: “We were told in no uncertain terms that had the old window remained, it would have fallen into the church within the next 18 months.

“So, as it turned out, we got in before this happened and nobody was hurt.”

As the window towers over the church’s main entrance, any collapse may have had terrible consequences.

Alongside the Christian imagery, the window highlights the town of Wareham – with the rivers Piddle and Frome either side of the cross.

Former parishioner Colonel Mrs Blain left a £10,000 legacy specifically for the window, while a legacy of Harry Perry – who ran a prominent Wareham transport firm – handed an additional £25,000 for the “fabric of the church.”

Viridor Credits donated £20,000 with the remainder raised by funeral donations and charitable events.

Clive said: “We would like to thank everyone who helped with this project, especially all the parishioners who donated.”