A Felixstowe church is appealing for sponsors to help cover the cost of repairing windows that are in danger of falling out.

St Felix Roman Catholic Church, a Grade II listed building in Gainsborough Road, faces a bill of more than £65,000 to replace eight nave windows that date back to 1912. While the church has funds in the bank, parish priest Canon John Barnes wants to offer companies and individuals the opportunity to sponsor a full window (approx £8,500 plus VAT) or part of a window (£2,800).

St Felix church entrance (Picture John Conlon)

Canon Barnes said: "Work by craftsmen is never cheap, and this large-scale work is going to be very expensive. Sponsors will be able to have one of the diamond-shaped panes engraved with an inscription, maybe saying it is in memory of someone who has died, or in thanksgiving for some event. A kind of permanent memorial."

He added: "After a hundred years or so the lead strips in these windows have begun to fail, with the result the glazing has begun to bulge. If nothing is done, the panes of glass will eventually fall out. It would be possible just to take out the the present glazing and re-set the diamond-shaped panes in new lead strips, but the glass is pale green and not at all attractive, really more suited to a lavatory than a church! We want to replace the green frosted glass with clear glass, which will flood the church with light."

Anyone interested can contact Canon Barnes on 01394 282561 or at [email protected]