One of the most famous symbols of Coventry will be back at full strength by the end of the year when the spire is replaced at Holy Trinity church.

The 700-year-old parish church in the city centre has been having its spire renovated after a successful £1 million appeal.

The famous spire, one of three in Coventry, has been missing from the top of the church while it has been repaired.

And the wraps have now been taken off the structure as builders prepare to re-assemble it.

Canon David Urquhart, vicar of Holy Trinity, said the work should be completed by Christmas.

Other parts of the project have included the restoration of a medieval paintings and a spruce up for some of the pinnacles and parapets on the building.

But Canon Urquhart, who has been at the helm of the church for the past seven years will not be there to see the finishing touches as he is leaving in September to become the Bishop of Birkenhead.

He said:

“I will be very sorry to leave but I’m delighted that such progress is being made and we are in sight of a fully restored spire.”

He added that the search for his successor was on, but it traditionally takes several months to fill vacancies.

He said:

“It’s quite a big responsibility. It’s a calling to a city centre ministry with a wide variety of people in the congregation and links with young people, the homeless and civic leaders.

“The cathedral and Holy Trinity are complementary to one another. The cathedral works regionally, nationally and internationally through the Community of the Cross of Nails, and Holy Trinity is regarded by the people of Coventry as their church.

“In Birkenhead there is also a great deal of variety, with countryside, the city of Chester and then some areas where unemployment is 22 per cent, and I shall be using my experience in Coventry to help me there.”