The recently restored church was built in 1887 on land granted to the congregation by the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo), which last year celebrated its 200th anniversary of incorporation.

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“Just when we thought we had everything complete at St James, the front facade is showing 138 years of weathering,” said the church’s Graham Creed.

“To bring it back to its former glory, St James Church is about to meet the future by going face to face with a cleaning drone.

“This cleaning will remove approximately 60-70 percent of the build up and staining leading to a facade worthy of its heritage and a longer lifespan and make it shine during Stroud 2026 Bi-Centennial celebrations.

“This method is suitable for cleaning historic building exteriors, effectively cleaning weathering, mould and dirt build up all while preserving the integrity of the delicate structures of historic buildings.

“Another key benefit is improved safety as, in this case, the roof pitch and height of the front wall make ground-based cleaning difficult and removes the need for scaffolding.

“[It also offers] increased efficiency as it covers large areas quickly, and offers greater accessibility for cleaning hard-to-reach places with minimal disruption.

“This efficient method of cleaning St James will lead to a facade worthy of its heritage and lead to a longer lifespan as one of Stroud’s most valued and loved assets.”

Cleaning will commence from 9am on Friday, 14 February, with the community invited to witness the spectacle.