CHURCHGOERS in a Somerset village could soon be welcomed by a unique mosaic – created by an expert who has worked on the likes of Westminster Abbey.

St Catherine’s Church, in Drayton, near Langport, has submitted a planning application for the installation of a mosaic designed by Somerset-based artist, stone carver and conservator, Nick Durnan.

Featuring an interpretation of a traditional St Catherine’s Wheel – which also appears in stained glass in the church – the stonework would be installed directly outside the porch.

“The church is dedicated to St Catherine and the proposed wheel mosaic will form a piece of public art which contributes to the setting and provides tangible interpretation of the church’s association with St Catherine,” the plans said.

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It forms part of an initiative at St Catherine’s to replace a slate roof and an “exhibition of church treasures and associated community and ecological activities”.

“The design will be of local stone and edge-bedded slates either reclaimed from the roof if their condition is sound enough, or using new Welsh slates,” the application said.

“The other stones used will be Ham Hill limestone, Blue Lias and White Lias.”

The mosaic would be installed directly outside the church porch. Pictures: Nick Durnan

The existing stone path will be lifted, with the stone “tooled or textured to ensure a non-slip surface”, the plans said.

“There has been universal approval for the design and concept of the mosaic from the PCC and the village community,” it added.

For more details on the mosaic, and to comment on the plans, log on to somerset.gov.uk and search application reference 26/00233/FUL.

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The mosaic echoes examples of a St Catherine’s Wheel already visible at the church. Pictures: b2 Architects/Somerset Council