Vandalised church seeks window protection

A 700-year-old church which has had its historical stained glass windows repeatedly vandalised has applied to install special protection for the panes.

St Peter’s Church by Chester Cross in Chester has submitted a planning application to the council to fit stainless steel protective guards to six windows.

These include the three lower windows in the south elevation, and the three main windows of the east elevation.

The application said the work on the Grade-I listed church on Watergate Street was necessary as it has seen "repeated episodes of vandalism" with stained glass broken requiring extensive repairs.

The application to Cheshire West and Chester Council stated the church had fitted similar protection to Chester Cathedral Refectory amongst many other ecclesiastical buildings, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

“Externally, there is very little impact on the historic fabric of the building and the original aesthetic quality of the church is kept intact," it added.

Planning documents said the guards had been designed specifically for use on listed and ecclesiastical buildings.

They are not visible from inside the building and the design of the guards follows guidelines set down by English Heritage, the diocesan advisory committee and other building conservation advisory groups.

The present Church of England structure dates from the 1300s but has been adapted and rebuilt over the centuries.

It is located at the meeting point of the four main Roman roads in the centre of the city.

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