CHURCH ANGEL: Rev Geoff Watson with a poster of the special stamp

A STAINED-glass window at St James’ Parish Church, Staveley, will soon be seen in millions of households around the country.

A section of an east window, featuring a six-winged angel playing a mandolin, is one of just five designs selected to appear on the Royal Mail’s second-class Christmas stamps for 2009 and already collectors are flocking to the church.

“We are quite thrilled and perhaps even more so that we got the second class stamp,” said the Rev Geoff Watson, “as more people use them on Christmas cards. It is already drawing so many more people in, especially stamp collectors. They are dropping in and we are happy to take them. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Mr Watson said the windows, designed by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, usually attract interest but was surprised when he got a call from the stamp’s designer.            “It came out of the blue and he said he had been looking at a website for inspiration and came across the east window and one panel in particular,” he said. “I was later told they might use it as one of the designs.”

A special open day will be held in Staveley to mark the occasion on Saturday, November 21, between 10am-4pm. There will be a talk about the origins of the window, the church, the development of Staveley, and tours of the village. St Margaret’s Tower will also be open during the day.