AN eminent stained glass artist has joined the growing chorus of concern about the fate of an historic church in Greenock.

Alec Galloway says he is worried about what the future holds for the Old West Kirk, which dates back to the 16th century and has a world-class stained glass collection.

It has been put up for sale on the open market and there are concerns about what could happen to the building - which was moved to its current site stone by stone - under private ownership.

Mr Galloway says its features should be conserved at all costs.

The A-listed building, located on the Esplanade, is no longer used for worship by Lyle Kirk and is going up for grabs, which has prompted concern from politicians and members of the public.

Now Mr Galloway has had his say too.

He told the Telegraph: "My main concern use is how they manage to preserve the glass.

"The Kirk has a significant glass collection of pre-Raphaelite windows by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, Rossetti and Cottier.

"It is quite unique for such a small church.

"These windows are of national significance, Burne-Jones was the leading stained artist of the UK in the 19th century.

"I did a programme for the the BBC when I was restoring the windows and Dr Jonathan Foyle, who is the curator at Hampton Court in London and an authority on pre-Raphaelite stained glass, said he had never seen these windows before.

"He was amazed by the collection, the church has such a high quality of glass."

The Old West Kirk was authorised by Royal Charter and was the first Presbyterian church built in Scotland following the Reformation.

What makes it even more unique was that it was moved brick by brick from its original waterfront site to the present one, re-opening there in 1928.

In recent times it has been one of three Lyle Kirk buildings in the town's west end following mergers.

Alec says that he hopes that whoever buys the building will keep its historic legacy.

Its significance in indicated by the fact it is highlighted alongside Yorkminster and Westminster Abbey in the www.visitstainedglass.uk website.

Alec said: "The building is obviously up for sale and open to developers to do what they will with it.

"But whoever takes it on must consider the stained glass.

"It is A-listed, so I don't think they can knock it down but they can modify it.

"Church conversions don't necessarily take stained glass into consideration.

"The fear for me that it would be compromised.

"There has been talk for years about keeping it intact and celebrating the history of the building and the community being part of its future."

Alec hopes that those who will make decisions about the Esplanade landmark will carefully consider the way other churches have been successfully converted - citing examples such as Oran Mor, Cottiers and Websters in Glasgow's west end.

He said: "I would urge the sellers to consider its future use before they sell it."