LANGLEY furniture restorer Geoff Jackson doesn’t usually find himself landing jobs in the Nigerian city of Lagos.

But the owner of Langley Furniture Works has returned from a mission in which he was tasked with replacing the wooden frame of a historic church window.

The old frame at St Paul’s Church in Lagos, which dated back to the 1870s, had become rotten.

“It was a wonderful culture shock,” said Geoff. “Everything was astonishing – the 35 degree heat, the courtesy and friendliness of everyone we met, the street market taking place just outside the church doors, the smog from the mega traffic and diesel generators, and then the extraordinary hot rain.”

The 5x4-metre frame was constructed in Geoff’s Langley workshop by Steve Cuthbert from Belsay, apprentice Ryan Robley, from Haydon Bridge, and other team members.

The frame had to be made in various pieces so it could be cost- effectively flown out to Nigeria.

Geoff added: “The construction was a great challenge.

“Every small detail was worked out and labelled, probably just like the original window was in a Victorian workshop 140 years ago.

“The whole team helped, as shifting, temporarily erecting and painting with five high specification coats took all of us on and off for six weeks.”

Once it was flown to Lagos, the frame took 10 days to put together on steel scaffolding, before it was secured and glazed.

Geoff said: “We were constantly entertained by the life of the church continuing around us. Choirs practiced, funerals were held and a local band came for their weekly practise sessions.”

Geoff secured his Nigerian adventure thanks to Marilyn O’Keefe, a glass restorer from Consett who has worked on churches across the world.

Having worked on Lagos Cathedral, she recommended Geoff and his team to the neighbouring St Paul’s Church.