A Shropshire parish church is putting an application in for a £3.5 million pound Lottery fund to help restore two historic stain glass windows.

St Laurence's Church has a fascinating history, welcoming over 70,000 visitors a year. 

Arthur, the Prince of Wales - the elder brother of Henry the Eighth - married Henry the Eighth’s first wife Catherine of Aragon in the Ludlow church.

The house of worship hopes to restore it's fascinating stain glass windows, but work is not due to start until 2023.

One of the stunning windows shows the life story of St Laurence the Saint in 27 panels, the other shows six of the 10 commandments.

Director of Church Management and Finance, Peter Neild, said if they don’t put the bid in now, it will cost millions more later on. He estimates that it could cost over £10 million.

Peter said: “Here at St Laurence's we have windows of both National and International importance.

“At the east end of the church particularly, the great east window is the story of Saint Laurence and is the only UK church with a story of the Saint as the main part of the window.

“There are 27 panels that explain his life from being a Roman soldier to being burnt alive by the Pope’s people because he couldn’t give the riches to the Pope in Monetrary terms, and then the miracles that came on the back of that that made him step out.

“As an individual item there are only three of these types of windows in Europe, two in Germany and one here at St Laurence's.

“Next to it is our 10 commandments window and that is the only window in the country that actually represents the 10 commandments as such.

“The window was put where it was because churches have their windows moved round,  and as it is medieval glass we think the other window that had the first four commandments was broken during the civil war.”

“The thing that makes it exciting is the colour and designs are very dramatic compared to a lot of stain glass windows around the country, even in some of our Cathedrals.”

St Laurences church was established since 1199, and the famous poet A.E Housman is buried there.