A PROJECT to create a memorial window in memory of one of Wales’ most charismatic priests has moved a step further.

Cannon Mark Soady, the Vicar of St Mary’s Priory Church, Abergavenny, is hopeful that a stained glass Jesse Window will be in place in the Lewis Chapel by the end of the year in memory of the Very Reverend Jeremy Winston, who died in 2011.

Fr Jeremy died two months after being installed as Dean of the Cathedral and had previously served as Vicar of Abergavenny for 18 years.

Preparation work for the memorial, which experts say will be the most exciting church art in Wales since the Second World War, began last year. The window will be designed by Helen Whittaker and represent the world-famous Jesse Tree figure which is housed in the north transept of the Lewis Chapel.

The figure depicts the family tree of Jesus Christ and is the only one of its kind in the world. The Jesse Tree is carved from solid oak and has only ever left the church once to go to the Tate Gallery in London.

The project has moved a step further after the Diocesan Advisory Committee agreed in principle to advise the Diocesan Chancellor that he should grant permission for the moving of the Jesse Tree and the creating of a Memorial Window at the East End of the Lewis Chapel.

Cannon Mark Soady, who took over from Father Jeremy Winston as Vicar of Abergavenny, explained: “The Jesse Tree is at the entrance of the west end and needs to be moved to the east end of the Lewis Chapel as it is key to the design of the memorial window.”

“The window is the missing part of the tree that would have been destroyed 500 years ago. Moving it has always been our desire.”

Welcoming the news the President of the Winston Memorial Appeal, Lord Rowe-Beddoe said: “Our prayers have been answered and we thank all those who have contributed in the early stages and maintained their faith in our wonderful project.”