INTERNAL scaffolding has finally been taken down at Worcester Cathedral as the window restoration project almost reaches completion.

Great West Window in the Anglican cathedral, located on College Yard, has been newly restored and depicts the sun, stars, creatures, animals and Adam and Eve depicting ‘The Creation’.

The project has been funded by the English Cathedrals First World War Repair Fund, from which Worcester Cathedral has received nearly £900,000.

In celebration of the end of this work there will be a Festival Evensong at 4pm on Sunday, June 10 when the newly-restored window will be blessed, and thanksgiving offered for the completion of all the projects.

This service will become an annual occasion to acknowledge our many donors and benefactors, past and present, of whom King Henry III in 1218 was a notable and very generous example.

The Very Reverend Dr Peter Atkinson, the Dean of Worcester Cathedral, said “We give thanks to our donors and benefactors, who give not only money, but time, effort, experience, ideas, and prayers. These are the things that sustain the life of the Cathedral, today, no less than 800 years ago.”

The scaffolding has been in place since last year.

There is however still some work that the Cathedral Stonemasons need to do on the outside of the West Window, so the external scaffolding at the west end of the Cathedral will come down during the first week in June.

The Church of England's 42 cathedrals are estimated to contribute around £220 million to the national economy every year through employment and tourism.

They welcome more than 11 million visitors annually, employ more than 7,000 people and are supported by 15,000 dedicated volunteers.