The statue of Mother and Child, which stands in the car park on the old St Mary’s Catholic Church site is to be renovated.

St Wilfrid’s Church has begun a consultation to decide whether to relocate it to a more prominent position or improve security at it’s present site to prevent further damage.

The statue, which is at the top of the stone steps in Friargate, is all that remains of St Mary’s Church, which closed in 1990 after congregation numbers dwindled.

Now it needs renovation after the hands and arms of Jesus have been removed.

Last weekend, the St Wilfrid’s Parish Newsletter asked: “As the years go on, who is aware why there is a statue in a car park? Who values the statue itself? Are the memories more important than the statue?

“The answers to those questions should give us some guidance for the future.”

Read more: Huge plans to develop the church in Preston have been announced

A piece of marble will be drilled from the core of the statue to replace the missing arms of Jesus in matching stone.

The church then has two options – to create a canopy to protect the statue from the elements, with lighting and a vandal proof, weather proof information board, or to relocate the statue to a new site within St Wilfrid’s with an information board placed in St Mary’s car park to mark the site.

Should the statue be relocated? Leave your opinions in the comments.