AN HISTORIC local church is taking on a towering task as it gets set to mark a memorable milestone with a £250,000 revamp.

St John's in Gourock is celebrating its 175th anniversary and as well as running a series of events to mark the occasion it is applying for Heritage Lottery funding so that the tower can be fully restored.

The church has signed up stained glass artist Alec Galloway to back its lotto funding bid.

Artist Alec, who is giving a talk on the history of the church's stunning stained glass windows on Saturday, believes the church is a building of important local significance.

He said: "There are arts and crafts era style windows at the church.

"There are good mix of the traditional and modern windows as well.

"You can see the narrative, as new windows have been installed as time as time has gone on."

If the bid is successful an artist will also be commissioned to create a new window which will be installed in the sanctuary.

Kay Clark, St John's heritage co-ordinator, says hopes are high that the lottery funding application will be successful.

She said: "The talk by Alec is part of the heritage lottery funding bid.

"The 22nd of November is the deadline for the application and the church will find out if they are successful in March.

"The £240,000 will include funding to renovate the clock tower and deliver a programme of activity to engage with the church's heritage and share it with the wider community."

* Alec's talk on Saturday will run between 1-3pm.