Historic Buildings

Professional Conservation of 17th Century Painting of the Crucifixion

St Edward's Church is a Grade 1 Listed building in the heart of Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, and a major tourist attraction with important Civil War connections, attracting thousands of visitors from around the world. Within the church is a large 17th century oil painting of the Crucifixion. An expert report on the painting's condition suggests that, as well as surface cleaning and retouching of the canvas, major structural repair is needed. The deteriorated painting was last cleaned, perhaps inexpertly, in 1953 and is in urgent need of expert attention to prevent further deterioration. In the context of an ongoing process of updating the church for the needs of the 21st century, the Parochial Church Council wishes to commission professional conservation of the painting for the benefit of future generations of the community and visitors.