The Parish of Rushall
Restoration of Wall Paintings
published in the Express & Star - July 1999
The Church is setting up a fund to cover its share of the cost.
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St. Michael the Archangel, Leigh Road, Walsall is seeking help from the Heritage Lottery Fund for urgent conservation/preservation of wall paintings by E. Reginald Frampton on the transept walls and chancel arch showing the four Archangels, Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life and the angelic choir. It is the largest of only four surviving frescoes by this late pre-Raphaelite artist. The bid will also seek help in restoring two recently discovered pictures by Frampton of The Good Shepherd.
The wall paintings were painted by E. Reginald Frampton in 1905 and 1906 and they have been deteriorating for a number of years. As a result of this the Church sought help from the council for the Care of Churches who funded two expert Conservators to carry out an investigation into =
the condition of the paintings. The Conservators Stephen Rickerby and Lisa Shekede have recommended an Environmental Monitoring and Conservation Programme. It is this programme for which the Church is seeking funding. The initial cost will be around £60,000. The Church hopes to fund £10,000 of this from its own resources and from other organisations connected with the Church and artistic bodies. The bid for funding will therefore be around £50,000.
Anyone wishing to assist should send their donations payable to:-
Rushall Parish Church (Murals)
c/o Treasurer,
Flat 3, 98 Butts Road,
Walsall, WS4 2BW