A hundred people packed into the Centenary Rooms at St Thomas-on-The Bourne Church in Farnham to hear about the forthcoming restoration of its stained glass windows.

Skilled craftsman Nick Easthope of Easthope Galleries talked to the audience about the work which he was going to start the following day.

His grandfather was apprenticed to a firm which supplied windows for Auguste Pugin, a great Victorian architect of ecclesiastical and public buildings.

Nick has worked on restoration at the Red House, William Morris’s Arts and Crafts masterpiece in London.

His wife Sarah assists him in his work, and his son is currently employing a team of six on a massive project, so his family’s tradition of producing useful and beautiful stained glass is looking secure for years to come.

Nick looked back at the long tradition of church glass, illustrating it by handing round examples of the flexible lead rods between which the glass is inserted - safely wrapped in polythene for this occasion to avoid any risk of poisoning.

He explained how the glass was made and painted, always on the inside of the window for protection from the weather. An example was handed round so people could feel the difference between the surfaces.

Jan Herbert, of The Bourne Parish, said: “After a break for delicious nibbles and a glass of wine, provided by a team led by Michele England and Ticia Goode, Nick explained the work which will be done on the St Thomas windows, which look fine from within the church but from outside are clearly bowing.

“This phase of the work will cost about £14,000, which will be financed by a series of fundraising events put on by the parish, and this evening raised about £1,500 after expenses. Many thanks to Nick for an engrossing evening.”