Work to restore the tower of Holy Name Church in Manchester has revealed both architectural gems as well as the inevitable deterioration that an old church undergoes, especially in the British climate.

With the church façade now under scaffolding, beautiful architectural details not easily visible from the ground can now be seen close-up – as can the problems with the building's structure too.

“From the scaffold one sees more clearly the finer detail of the roundels on the West façade, one showing the Holy Name in a Medieval Manchester and one of two sailing ships, perhaps representing the smaller Jesuits behind and the larger diocese in front,” says Fr Dushan Croos SJ, the Jesuit priest in charge at Holy Name.