Newspaper article regarding the Millennium Window in St Andrew's Church.

Villagers can now treasure a permanent reminder of their heritage.

A new Millennium window is in place in St Andrew's Church, Marks Tey.

The window was the brainchild of Andrew Waters, vice chairman of the parochial church council, who oversaw the design and negotiations to gain planning permission for the work in the Grade I listed building.

He said: "This was an idea I had nearly four years ago.

"One of the aims was that present and future generations would discover that their village, which has changed so much, has a heritage and therefore appreciate it more."

The design collates themes reflecting the history of Marks Tey as well as a Gospel message. Features include the coats of arms of the Marks and the Tey families who gave their names to the village, sweet peas to remember when Marks Tey was one of the largest seed-growing areas in the world, a group of schoolchildren and Guides and Scouts to represent the future, and bricks to mark the 138-year-old WH Collier brickworks. Historic links to Roman times and the Siege of Colchester are also remembered.

The £6,000 window was created by Susan McCarthy of Auravisions of Wickford and was made possible by grants from Colchester Borough Council and Marks Tey parish council, donations from local businesses and churches and community fundraising.

A special dedication service for the window will be held in the church at 11am on February 11.