Pru’s tips on using chuch salvage in the home

● Old church pews are a good buy for the kitchen or dining room. With a huge number of churches earmarked for closure and many others opting to replace their pews with congregation-friendly chairs, there are many bargains to be had.

● Floor tiles reclaimed from churches look amazing in a hallway, but can also look great repurposed as kitchen splashbacks. Why not be brave and use them to make a headboard for your bed? You need to think outside the box – just because something came from a church, doesn’t mean it wouldn’t look amazing in your home.

● Victorian gothic detailing is a beloved feature of many parish churches, but it can also be used to bring drama to any interior or to enhance a garden. Look out for windows, fireplaces and metalwork.

● Did you know that the process of making stained-glass windows has hardly changed since the 12th century? Consider incorporating a piece of ecclesiastical glass into your design. Often handpainted with vibrant colours, they can create an incredible focal point in a room. Why do you think the Edwardians so often adorned their homes with colourful patterned leaded lights?

● Only buy from a dealer who subscribes to the Salvo Code – that way you can be confident that you haven’t bought any item removed from listed or protected historical buildings, or from sites of scheduled monuments, without the appropriate legal consent.