Haworth Parish Church’s connection with one of the village’s most famous literary personalities has been revived during roof repair and improvement works.

And the refurbishment has allowed the church's custodians to take possession of a rock-solid link between Charlotte Brontë and another notable British female writer and artist – Elizabeth Gaskell.

Stone from Elizabeth's old home in Manchester has been brought across to Haworth to comprise a section of new flooring for the church.

A spokesman for the parish church explained: "As part of our restoration plan an engraved glass door was installed at the north door leading into Church Street.

"It replaced an old wooden entrance and, as part of the work, it was necessary to lay new stone flooring.

"Stuart Burgess, the contracts manager for the project's contractors Oldham-based firm Maysand, has produced a durable piece of history to 'reunite' Charlotte with her close friend, the writer, painter and biographer Elizabeth Gaskell.

"Maysand had previously carried out a project on a house on Plymouth Grove, Manchester where Elizabeth had once lived."

Mr Burgess said: “When we worked on the Gaskell House in Manchester we lifted some stone flags from just inside the front door.

"We were asked to dispose of them and they were still in my van destined for the skip when I came to work Haworth’s parish church roof.

“At the same time my mother-in-law and I were discussing the history of the Brontës and, after I did some research on the family, I made the connection between Elizabeth Gaskell and Charlotte Brontë.

“Given where the stones were laid at the front door of the house in Manchester, Charlotte Brontë must have stood on them so I approached the church to see if they might be interested in using some of the stone at the north door.”

Charlotte Brontë is said to have visited the house in Manchester on at least three occasions, and now visitors to Haworth will have an opportunity to "walk in the footsteps" of not one but two classic British authoresses.

Maysand’s managing director Bryn Lisle said: “It was really pleasing to see the stone being used again in a historic building, and we were delighted that we could help make such a historic literary connection.”

The rector of Haworth, Reverend Peter Mayo-Smith, who is also the honourable treasurer of the Brontë Society, said: “It’s amazing that in the 200th year of Charlotte’s birth that the two friends should be re-united in this way.

“We’d like to thank Stuart and Maysand for enabling us to make this very special connection between two famous authors again.”