'Radical' new altar for cathedral

The altar is made of oak and glass

A "radical" nave altar commissioned by the Dean of St Asaph has taken its place in the town's cathedral.

Denbighshire furniture-maker Robert Ingham, from Cwm, near St Asaph, has put the altar together from wood and glass donated by local firms.

The £8,000 bleached oak creation has been delivered in time for Christmas services.

The Very Reverend Chris Potter said he was "overwhelmed" when the altar was placed in the cathedral.

He said: "It's wonderful. I had a fair idea of what it would look like because some months ago Robert made a model for us, but it was only a tiny thing.

"Now it's here, I can hardly express my delight too.

"I remember when Robert brought it the other day he was overwhelmed and I was overwhelmed."

The dean, a former furniture maker himself, decided to look in the Yellow Pages for a local designer.

I didn't have a clue we had one of the country's top furniture-makers on our doorstep The Very Reverend Chris Potter, pictured with the old altar

He had no idea then that Mr Ingham was a former principal of Parnham College in Dorset, one of Britain's most famous furniture schools.

He added: "When I got to the studio I was astounded. I didn't have a clue we had one of the country's top furniture-makers on our doorstep.

"I'm very excited about the whole thing."

Mr Ingham said: "It's been a very exciting challenge, but really enjoyable.

"And Chris, being an former furniture maker himself, has helped in ideas process.

"I'm not religious, but he's been very understanding of that, and very easy to work with."

He added: "To see it on location... it's just come to life.

"I've seen it in the form of components for a number of weeks and the excitement when we brought it through the door and put the glass on, it just defies description."