RESTORATION OF WALL PAINTINGS SACRED HEART, CATERHAM Submission to dfc October 2015

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1 RESTORATION OF WALL PAINTINGS SACRED HEART, CATERHAM Submission to dfc October 2015 The church at Caterham contains wonderful wall paintings dating from the 1880s which are unique in the Diocese. They are the work of Joseph Pippet who was one of the Hardman Company's most accomplished artists. Much of Pippet's work for Catholic and Anglican churches throughout the country has been obliterated in the train of the Modern Movement and the associated reaction against ornamentation. Caterham is fortunate in retaining a decorative scheme in the sanctuary which is largely intact. The decoration was applied directly to tooled Reigate stone and thus has an interestingly irregular surface. The sanctuary in 1994 The condition of the paintings has deteriorated with time. From early in the 20 th century water infiltration at the base of the solid stone walls and from the piscina caused flaking of the paintwork. At the same time a deposit of oily soot from candle smoke darkened the surfaces.

2 Original scheme A panel in the front of the high altar depicting the Lamb of God was the centrepiece of Pippet's design. The whole was conceived as a hymn of praise to the Lamb featuring the Te Deum and angels proclaiming the "sanctus" 1957 cleaning In 1957, parish priest Fr Scarborough set his mind to brightening up and modernising the church. Parishioners were co-opted to scour the decorated walls with carborundum pads. This had the effect of removing the paint from the high points of the stone and leaving dirt within the crevices resulting in a tapestry like appearance. An inappropriate varnish was then applied which has darkened over the years and produced a hazy screen over the artwork. The "sanctus" motif below the dado essential to the understanding of Pippet's design was overpainted with impervious paint. This had the effect of trapping water within the wall and hastening the deterioration.

3 The sanctuary in 1958 without the Lamb or the "sanctus" Condition today Drainage around the apse was improved in 1994 and the solid walls have gradually dried out, but with resulting efflorescence.

4 The varnished artwork is in a fragile condition and needs urgent stabilisation to prevent further flaking. The Lady chapel The Hardman Company executed a scheme for the Lady Chapel in Pippet's scheme consisted of a beautifully painted lady altar with reredos and statue between lights depicting the Assumption and the Coronation of Our Lady. The walls below the stone string course were stencilled with a Marian design. Upper parts of the chapel were painted deep blue. By the 1920s dampness was causing paint to flake from the window reveals and end wall.

5 1958 renovations in 1958 the decorative scheme was obliterated with cementitious paint. Subsequently dampness in the walls has been exacerbated by a missing rainwater pipe which should have discharged into the hidden box gutter above. The gutter was attended to some years ago and the affected walls have dried out. The Lady chapel today Water trapped behind the cementitious paint has badly damaged the stonework The altarpiece remains in good condition, but needs a clean.

6 Proposal for sanctuary Three quotations have been obtained from conservation specialists for arresting the deterioration of Pippet's work and returning both the Sanctuary and the Lady Chapel to their original glory. The preferred quotation is from Hirst Conservation who have previously conserved Pippet's work at Greenham and Barton-upon-Irwell. Conservation of sanctuary wall paintings Hirst quotation Preliminaries 15, , Sanctuary paintings trials and investigations 2, remedial works to paintings 20, repairs and fills 4, re-touching 11, re-instatement of design below dado 26, reproduction of altar panels 6, , Sanctuary stonework cleaning of windows, string course arches etc 6, , Total 92, Conserved Pippet wall paintings and dado at St Mary's Church, Greenham

7 Proposal for Lady Chapel Lady chapel investigation 1, stripping and repairs 10, re-nstatement works 9, clean altarpiece 3, Lady chapel stonework cleaning windows, string course piscina etc 3, conservation record documentation 1, , , , , Associated works/total Associated works skirting encaustic/geometri tile skirting to sanctuary (15 lin m) 2, encaustic/geometric tiles to lady chapel (6 lin m) 1, , decoration of ceilings sanctuary (70 sq m with mouldings) lady chapel (23 sq m) 1, carpentry re-erection of carved lady chapel screen lighting alterations to lighting (provisional) 2, TOTAL ADDITIONAL WORKS 7, GRAND TOTAL 129, , , Parish Finance Following the recent sale of St Thomas, Whyteleafe a sum of 826, has been transferred to the parish account. The intention is to expend some of this money on the much-delayed conservation of the wall paintings. The parish will claim a grant against VAT incurred (for the works and professional fees) under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.