New lighting is set to be installed at Stoke Minster to highlight the building's architectural and historical significance.  

The improvements, part of a partnership between the church and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, will improve lighting at the Grade II listed Minster after dark.

The present building, consecrated in 1830, contains ceramic memorials to several local potters as well as a more recent memorial to local football legend Sir Stanley Matthews.

Additionally, Stoke Minster is the burial place of several generations of the Spode family as well as Josiah Wedgwood.

 Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for safe and resilient communities at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "Stoke Minster is an important historic landmark for our city and a place that means a great deal to the local community.

"These improvements will not only showcase the building's beauty but also help create a safer and more welcoming space for everyone who visits or passes through the area."

The latest phase of improvements to the church, which hosts community events and concerts alongside the usual services, will be funded through the Design Out Crime scheme, part of the Home Office's Levelling Up Fund, and will also aims to help deter anti-social behaviour at the site.

The project follows recent improvement work such as tree maintenance carried out during the autumn to improve the health of the trees and remove areas that had previously provided cover for anti-social behaviour.

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Funding from the government's High Street Accelerator programme has already supported upgrades to lighting around the main entrance and doorway, improving visibility and access to the building.

Paul Adams, Parish Ward at Stoke Minster, added: "Stoke Minster has stood at the heart of the community for centuries, and we are delighted to be working in partnership to enhance the grounds and highlight this beautiful building.

"The new lighting will help people appreciate the Minster even more while supporting efforts to keep the area safe and welcoming."

The next phase of the project will begin on 23 March with the installation of the new lighting