Church Fights To Save 500-Year-Old Paintings
A church in North Yorkshire is preparing to apply for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to preserve rare wall paintings that are over 500 years old. The paintings, located in St Peter and St Paul’s church in Pickering, depict scenes from the passion of Jesus Christ and the lives of saints. Thought to have been created around 1470, they are considered one of only five remaining examples of medieval church wall paintings in England. Over time, some of the paintings have been damaged or lost, but a portion was rediscovered during renovations in 1852. Despite efforts to conserve them, a Victorian vicar at the time believed they distracted from his sermons.
Professor Kate Giles, an archaeologist from the University of York, told the BBC that no conservation work has been done on the paintings for over 50 years. She noted that past preservation attempts might have been harmful. Conservators in the 19th and 20th centuries applied a protective coating to prevent dampness, but this has led to problems, such as trapping dirt and dust and preventing the paintings from “breathing.” However, Giles praised the church’s underfloor heating system for maintaining a stable environment that reduces humidity and helps preserve the artwork.
Reverend Gareth Atha, the church’s current vicar, acknowledged that his predecessor viewed the paintings as a distraction, but he sees them as a valuable asset. He described it as a privilege to lead worship in the presence of such historic art.
In related news, during renovation work at a church in Germany, hundreds of medieval coins and other personal items, including a bronze monkey figurine, were recently uncovered. This discovery adds to the excitement surrounding the preservation of historical treasures in places of worship.