Historic artwork unveiled at church (From Western Telegraph)

Historic artwork unveiled at church

A 100-year-old piece of artwork has been unveiled at Angle Church after being restored.

The large painting is known as a reredos and is similar to a mural except that it is painted on a wooden screen and is transportable. It depicts scenes from Angle at the turn of the century. The people of Angle are shown attending church as well as working the fields and fishing.

The central image is of Christ on the cross. Unusually, he is shown wearing high priestly robes.

The reredos was a gift from the Mirehouse family, of Angle, and has been situated in the little known Seamens Chapel for many years. The chapel is tucked away behind the main church and, dating from 1411, may have been the first building on the site.

Angles Vicar, the Rev Tony Turner, said: 'The Seamen's Chapel was built because when seamen came home, especially from a rough journey, many of them wanted to go somewhere to pray.'

The long years in the chapel took their toll on the reredos, however and extensive work was needed to restore flaking wood and peeling paint. A grant was obtained from The Esmee Fairburn Trust for the work, which was carried out by Hoss Macrow Conservation, of Tenby.

Mr Macrow said: 'The ground (the plaster-like base of the painting) had started to turn to powder, meaning that the paint was falling away from the wood. I had to make the ground solid enough for the paint to stick again.'

The unveiling was carried out by Lord St Davids on Thursday night in a ceremony attended by local church members and members of the Allen-Mirehouse family.

CAPTION: Pembrokeshire artist Arthur Giardelli; the Rev Tony Turner, Vicar of Angle; Mrs Rosie Allen-Mirehouse and Lord St Davids pictured at the unveiling of the restored reredos. PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography.