A LEAKY roof led to a discovery of an art treasure at a church in Ringwood, which had been covered up for 115 years.

Restoration work after a roof leak at the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul revealed that rumours of a colourful secret hiding under plain wall were true.

After roof repairs in 2017, the wall had to be left to dry out before conservation started to the existing paintings. Only then did it become clear that many more hid underneath white paint.

When the church in Market Place was rebuilt in the 1850s, the east wall of the Chancel - the area of the church with the altar and choir stalls - was covered in colourful wall paintings.

In 1906 they were painted over, after damage from roof leaks. It seems that repairs were too costly, and only the images of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, remained visible. It was unknown whether anything survived under the emulsion paint.

Work is underway for the over-paint to be removed. The wall paintings are being revealed in all their glory by Peter Martindale, an expert paint conservator whose work includes churches, cathedrals, oil paintings and other art works.

Peter Martindale said: “Considering the age of the wall paintings and what has happened over the decades, their overall condition is very good. These wall paintings are of a similar date to the stained glass in the chancel.

“The fact that the wall paintings echo the style of the stained glass leads me to suggest that the interior of the chancel would have been stunning in the 1870s. We are hoping to bring some of that back through the programme of conservation which includes uncovering, consolidation and retouching/reconstruction.

“The host of musical angels, over the east window, will catch the eye of anyone who enters the church. As with all projects like this I am very grateful to the Parish for commissioning the work and for their kind welcome and considerable interest. It is a great pleasure to work in such a beautiful church.”

As well as uncovering the wall paintings, Peter is stabilising and repairing the images of the Gospel writers, especially St Luke who had deteriorated badly due to rainwater getting into the wall.

Vicar Matthew Trick added: “The paintings bring the message alive in a way beyond words.”

The church welcomes visitors to view the paintings.

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