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The Folke Altarpiece and Sir James Thornhill (See Below for explanation)

Easter 2021

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Beware - A Story for Easter

The vicar one day announced that Jesus Christ himself was coming to church the following Sunday. People turned up in large numbers to see him. Everyone expected him to preach, but he only smiled when introduced and said, "Hello". Everyone offered him hospitality for the night, especially the priest, but he refused politely. He said he would spend the night in church. How fitting, everyone thought.

He slipped away early next morning before the church doors were opened. And, to their horror, the priest and people found their church had been defaced. Scribbled everywhere on the walls was the single word "Beware." No part of the church was spared: the doors and windows, the pillars and the pulpit, the altar, even the Bible that rested on the lectern. "Beware." written in large letters and in small, in pencil and pen and even with paint of every conceivable colour. Wherever the eye rested one could see the word: "Beware".

Shocking. Irritating. Confusing. Fascinating. Terrifying. What were the people supposed to be beware of? It did not say. It just said "Beware." The first impulse of the people was to wipe out every trace of this graffiti. However, they were restrained from doing so by the thought that it might have been Jesus himself who had done this deed.

Now the mysterious word "Beware" began to pray on the minds of the people each time they came to church. They began to beware of the Scriptures, so they were able to profit from them without falling into doctrinaire thought. They began to beware of sacraments, so they were sanctified without becoming superstitious. The vicar began to be beware of his power over the people, so he was able to help without being controlling. And everyone began to beware of religion itself which can lead the unwary to self-righteousness. They became law abiding, yet compassionate to the weak. They began to be aware of prayer, so it no longer stopped them becoming self-reliant. They even began to be aware of their notions of God so they were able to recognize him outside the narrow confines of their own ideas and church.

Even people outside the church, who seldom attended, began to see something of value in the religion and began to seek more information.

Yours

Tony Gilbert

Rector Three Valleys Benefice

Three Valleys Team Ministry

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The Folke Altarpiece and Sir James Thornhill

Sometime early in the 19th Century the Reverend Robert Frome, Rector of St Lawrence Church at Folke (1777 to 1833) gave the church an Altarpiece by Sir James Thornhill of the Resurrection of Christ. This painting had been given to him by Charles Sturt, esq. when Grange Chapel at Middlemarch was pulled down.

James Thornhill (1675 to 1734), Dorset born and bred, became a renowned artist and architect of his time. Among his many commissions are the Dome of St Paul's Cathedral, Greenwich, Blenheim Palace and, local to us, the amazing stairwell at Sherborne House. He is the first British artist to be awarded a knighthood.

Over the years the painting became a bit of burden to the church, it hung in the church until 1964 when the damp of the unheated building had caused so much damage it prompted the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to take action.

The Bristol City Art gallery took the painting and carried out some conservation work and it was on permanent loan to them for 10 years. After that time the Gallery declined to keep it longer. The PCC made huge efforts to loan the picture to other organisations, including the National Trust, but to no avail, its size of 7 feet x 3.3 feet proved a stumbling block, so it was decided to sell it. It was sent to Christies for Auction in 1965 but failed to reach the recommended reserve. Strangely at this time Christies attributed it to Sir Issac Fuller and called it the Ascension. There are no papers to explain this assertion. After that the PCC was fortunate to loan the painting to the Dorset County Museum (DCM) in Dorchester. It has been stored there ever since.

In the meantime Jeremy Barker, trustee of The Friends of Sherborne House, and Thornhill enthusiast, has written a detailed book about the Altarpiece essentially to prove the painting's provenance.

At the end of last year DCM requested a 5 year loan from the PCC to hang the painting in the new Dorset Artist's Gallery when the Museum reopens after refurbishment. This led to a close examination of the painting and restoration work being identified. It was sent to International Fine Art Conservation Studios in Bristol. Over £9,000 work was required. This has been carried out and largely paid for by The Friends of Sherborne House , thank you to Jeremy Barker, and the balance paid by DCM charitable funds. The PCC are very, very grateful to the both organisations.

The painting will now spend 5 years at DCM. It is then destined to hang in Sherborne House when the restoration there has been completed. Folke PCC could not have wished for a better outcome, and cannot wait to go and see it.

The painting has now been confirmed as The Resurrection by Sir James Thornhill.

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A PRAYER FOR ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS

Keep us, good Lord,

under the shadow of your mercy.

Sustain and support the anxious,

be with those who care for the sick,

and lift up all who are brought low;

that we may find comfort

knowing that nothing can separate us from your love