| A glimpse of the colourful nouveau stencil was revealed to the world six days ago when professional conservator Alan Ferdinand began the painstaking work of removing several layers of paint with a scalpel.
Endless hours of skilled work since then has resulted in a full panel being revealed, showing the dove of peace and the tree of knowledge with three rings representing good, evil and eternity, with marked similarities to the pulpit which Mackintosh designed for Queen’s Cross Church in Glasgow.
The mural is believed to have been painted more than a century ago but it is unclear why church members decided to redecorate over it.
Records show that Mackintosh visited Dysart on October 1, 1901, and claimed expenses for his visit from his employers, Honeyman and Keppie.
A fortnight later the church paid the firm £10 in fees for decorations, which points to him having designed the stencil.
There is still some doubt as to whether he painted it himself but all avenues are being explored, according to Carol McNeill of Dysart Trust.
“There are many theories being considered about Mackintosh’s links with Dysart,” she said. “One is that he was friendly with either a minister or elder of the kirk at the time.”
Kirk elder, Morag Baker said she too was delighted that the mural was being restored.
“The enthusiasm, encouragement and help given by the Kirk board, Dysart Trust, Dysart Regeneration and a host of individuals has been rewarded and we look forward to sharing this exceptional work of artistic and historic importance with the community,” she said.
Once the work has been completed, the 130-year-old kirk will be opening its doors to the public.
The old church was originally built as St Serf’s United Free Church. It is now a Church of Scotland, following its amalgamation with Dysart’s Barony Church in 1972. |
