ST LUKE'S Church, Lowton will be open to visitors on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for a Diamond Jubilee art exhibition.

Parishioners are celebrating the fact that the much admired stained glass East window was installed in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and the church will be open Thursday and Friday from 1pm to 5pm and on Saturday from 9.30am to 3pm.

St Luke's PCC member Alan Baldwin explained how the stained glass East window was unveiled on June 20, 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Jubilee.

He said: "A faculty to do this was granted by the Bishop of Liverpool in April 1897 to the Rector, the Rev Richard Smith. The money to pay for the window was raised by donations from parishioners and people with connections with the church from as far away as Liverpool and Southport.

"The largest donation recorded was £25 from a Mr J. Laycock, the smallest being several donations of sixpence. A total of £171 9s 4d was raised and the window cost £135 and was made by the renowned stained glass designers and manufacturers Cambell, Smith & Co. of London.

"The central panel shows Christ blessing the little children and the two side panels show St Luke and St John.