A LABOUR of love was finally brought to fruition when a pair of stained glass windows were installed in the historic St John's Church in Gourock.

Alec Galloway installed the artwork as the centrepiece of a £240,000 project - Our Church History through Stained Glass - as part of 175th anniversary celebrations.

The new panels represent the the future of the church as well as looking at its past through its existing stained glass pieces by world famous artist Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones.

Alec said: "This has taken eight months to complete and I've had great input from St Ninian's Primary and Moorfoot Primary.

"We had stained class workshops and the top part of the window was inspired by the kids' ideas."

The new windows are based on the Bible story of the Feeding of the 5,000.

Alec said: "There is the figure of Christ and the second panel is of a child offering Jesus loaves and fishes."

The acclaimed local artist said it was very satisfying to finally install the windows and see his work in its rightful place.

He said: "You measure and measure but it's not until you are installing the window that you will know if it will fit.

"I'm really happy."

The piece had been due to be fitted in the summer but this had to be put on hold because of the pandemic.

Alec said: "I've enjoyed having it in the studio - it's been lovely to see it every day on the glass easel."

St John's minister Reverend Teri Peterson is delighted with the finished product.

The restoration of the tower and church bell mechanism is also under way as part of the project, which has been funded by the National Lottery heritage fund and Heritage Environment Scotland.

Reverend Peterson said: "Work should be completed this month with all the scaffolding down.

"We hope by the beginning of November and All Saints Day that we will be able to welcome some people back to the church."