Faith

The wooden structure, which sits on top of two granite bases, was removed at the beginning of June by JW Rihoy & Son whose qualified joiners replaced the rotten soft wood which formed the roof structure.

The gate back at St Matthew's Church

With the frame, which sits over the main gate, restored and replaced at the church the roof can be reclad with natural slate to match the rest of the church.

"The lych gate is such an integral part of the church but unfortunately, it had fallen victim to years of exposure to the elements and so we were approached to restore it," said Steve Moores, Surveying Manager for Rihoys.

"We have worked on a number of historically valuable sites and so we are pleased to be able to use that expertise to restore this to its former glory. It has been great for our joiner, Stuart Austin, to be able to work on something so special that will be enjoyed and appreciated by so many people over the next century."

Traditionally, lych gates stand at the entrance to a church and form the point where the clergy used to meet the coffin and where it rested while part of the service was read before burial. It also served as a shelter for the pall-bearers.

Lych Gate at the Vale Church

Nowadays, lych gates are more commonly used as picturesque backdrops for wedding photographs.

People's Warden at St Matthew's Church, Pauline Mahy, was pleased to see it return: "Our lych gate is one of only three such gates on the Island so we see it as a fairly unique feature. Unfortunately it was deteriorating to the point of being unsafe so we really needed to get it repaired before we lost it all together.