I've found it's more difficult to feel the emotion of surprise as I get older. This might be because of what some clever people have called "accumulated experience". All this means is that the older we become the more knowledgeable we get and the more we have lived the less likely are we to be surprised by what we come across. The kindly would say we get wiser like the old owl, the less kindly - the more jaded; who from the older generations hasn't experienced the feeling of "Oh I've been there, done that and got the T shirt". But surprise can be a wonderful emotion and when a pleasant surprise comes along its definitely something that should be savoured. This happened to me just after a visit to Rome several months ago.
In a previous post I wrote about Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes and a trip we'd made to see a presentation about them whilst in Rome. At that time I had no knowledge of what I am about to tell you now. On returning to England I did a little more background Michelangelo research for the posting and discovered there are very few copies of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the entire world. I was stunned to find out one of the best is located just 20 minutes from where I live in Sussex. So there's my surprise - the discovery of a reproduction of one of the planet's most renowned works of art here on my doorstop and I hadn't known about it! With the surprise came excitement and many questions - what would it look like? - would it be full size? how had the artists achieved it? and above all - would it be any good??? We made plans to visit immediately - and this posting tells the story behind this amazing find.
It was a 20 minute journey by car from our cottage to the church where the ceiling painting is located in the small Sussex town of Goring-on-Sea just two miles to the west of Worthing. Located on a side road just off a busy dual carriageway the catholic church is nothing to write home about for it's a 1960's building attached to what used to be the former church building - an old brick and flint barn which now serves as the parish hall. Who would ever have thought that inside this undistinguished building was a hand painted reproduction of one of the most famous ceilings in the world?
As suggested on the church's website we'd rung ahead to make sure it would be open to visitors. They obviously close during services and when weddings, funerals and christenings are taking place. There was a hive of activity round the entrance to the parish hall where an auction was due to take place that evening and we were directed to the main entrance of the church next door. When we walked in to the main body of the church I think my jaw dropped to be quite honest, for the reproduction of the Sistine Chapel ceiling was much more than I had anticipated. It might not have a grain of the originality or the fulsomeness of Michelangelo's ceiling but in it's own way it was and is a remarkable tribute to the original to say the least.
In 1987 Gary Bevans, a parishioner who'd converted to the catholic faith at 17, went on a pilgrimage aged 33 to the Vatican in Rome and saw Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoed ceiling for the first time. So inspired was he by the experience that he returned to his local community and approached his Parish priest with an idea. He'd noticed that the curved and vaulted ceiling of his own church was in some ways similar to and not of a dissimilar size to that found in the Sistine Chapel. Despite having no formal art training, (he was a sign-writer by trade) he proposed painting a reproduction of the Sistine ceiling on the vaulted ceiling of this church. Members of the congregation and the priest Father Naughton were all keen on the idea, but it was Bishop Cormac Murphy O'Connor who finally granted permission for the work to go ahead.
Bevans first covered the ceiling with plain plywood panels which he painted with white emulsion and then began using acrylic paints to reproduce Michelangelo's fresco finish. This was the time that the original ceiling in the Vatican had been undergoing restoration and Bevans matched his colours to the cleaned Sistine ceiling colours. He intially produced full sized drawings to ensure correct proportions and perspectives and reduced them in size to 2/3 of the original to cover the 3,500 square feet of the church ceiling. The original frescoes covered 5000 square feet. Bevans then proceeded to start painting sections of the ceiling which included 500 figures. He mainly worked in the evenings, often late in to the night, sometimes in the hot conditions of high summer and also in the deep cold of Winter. It took him five years to complete the ceiling - interestingly this was comparable to the length of time Michelangelo's took to finish the Vatican one. It was finally completed in 1993 and it remains, as far as I am aware, the only near full-sized copy of the original in the world.
Having recently seen the original I could remember all the main panels taken from stories in the Book of Genesis including the separation of sky from water, the creation of Adam, the creation of Eve, the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the Great Flood and the drunkenness of Noah. Careful accommodation had been made to represent the ignudi figures, the Sibyls and the relatives of Jesus Christ. When you look at the photographs below you will see how clever Bevans has been in reproducing the illusions of depth and perspective in the lower reaches of the vault. Bevans is known to have said that he did little to introduce himself as an artist in to the work. He wanted it to be as convincing as possible.
After five years of working on the ceiling Bevans lost none of his enthusiasm for his mission and so inspired was he that he subsequently trained as a Deacon to work alongside the Parish Priest. Now in his 60's the ladies on duty told me he is still very much involved in the church's work and only occasionally has to touch up the ceiling paintings. They are surviving incredibly well.
Today people visit the church from all over the world and there were some other visitors there with us. Evidently 15,000 visitors a year is now the norm. At one point I saw a lady wheeling what looked like one of those gilded hostess trolleys down the aisle and I thought it was someone going to make the tea. I then realised it was a visitor using the trolley which had a mirror inserted on the top shelf making it possible to view the murals without having to crick her neck! A nice touch I thought.
As I write this posting once again I'm intrigued and baffled by the coincidence of making the visit to see the original ceiling in Rome with my discovery and viewing of this church ceiling in Goring-on- Sea. I would recommend a special trip to see it if you can.
I'm indebted to the church information leaflet which I bought for 25 pence which helped me with background for this article and for another article which appeared in the local daily rag - The Argus - in June 2009 - the month Gary Bevans was inaugurated as a Deacon of the Martyrs' church.
The Church of the English Martyrs is at Goring Way, Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex. Tel 01903 506890. Parish Priest 01903 242624. Information about opening times is available on the internet.
Ciao
Ian
This is just one post of many Pleasethat focus on my Italian interests. I'd be thrilled if you choose to read others! Please share this post if you know someone who might be interested in it. Many thanks - Ian
In a previous post I wrote about Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes and a trip we'd made to see a presentation about them whilst in Rome. At that time I had no knowledge of what I am about to tell you now. On returning to England I did a little more background Michelangelo research for the posting and discovered there are very few copies of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the entire world. I was stunned to find out one of the best is located just 20 minutes from where I live in Sussex. So there's my surprise - the discovery of a reproduction of one of the planet's most renowned works of art here on my doorstop and I hadn't known about it! With the surprise came excitement and many questions - what would it look like? - would it be full size? how had the artists achieved it? and above all - would it be any good??? We made plans to visit immediately - and this posting tells the story behind this amazing find.
It was a 20 minute journey by car from our cottage to the church where the ceiling painting is located in the small Sussex town of Goring-on-Sea just two miles to the west of Worthing. Located on a side road just off a busy dual carriageway the catholic church is nothing to write home about for it's a 1960's building attached to what used to be the former church building - an old brick and flint barn which now serves as the parish hall. Who would ever have thought that inside this undistinguished building was a hand painted reproduction of one of the most famous ceilings in the world?
As suggested on the church's website we'd rung ahead to make sure it would be open to visitors. They obviously close during services and when weddings, funerals and christenings are taking place. There was a hive of activity round the entrance to the parish hall where an auction was due to take place that evening and we were directed to the main entrance of the church next door. When we walked in to the main body of the church I think my jaw dropped to be quite honest, for the reproduction of the Sistine Chapel ceiling was much more than I had anticipated. It might not have a grain of the originality or the fulsomeness of Michelangelo's ceiling but in it's own way it was and is a remarkable tribute to the original to say the least.
 |
| GARY BEVANS SIGN WRITER TURNED ARTIST PAINTER OF THE CEILING AT MARTYRS CHURCH GORING |
In 1987 Gary Bevans, a parishioner who'd converted to the catholic faith at 17, went on a pilgrimage aged 33 to the Vatican in Rome and saw Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoed ceiling for the first time. So inspired was he by the experience that he returned to his local community and approached his Parish priest with an idea. He'd noticed that the curved and vaulted ceiling of his own church was in some ways similar to and not of a dissimilar size to that found in the Sistine Chapel. Despite having no formal art training, (he was a sign-writer by trade) he proposed painting a reproduction of the Sistine ceiling on the vaulted ceiling of this church. Members of the congregation and the priest Father Naughton were all keen on the idea, but it was Bishop Cormac Murphy O'Connor who finally granted permission for the work to go ahead.
Bevans first covered the ceiling with plain plywood panels which he painted with white emulsion and then began using acrylic paints to reproduce Michelangelo's fresco finish. This was the time that the original ceiling in the Vatican had been undergoing restoration and Bevans matched his colours to the cleaned Sistine ceiling colours. He intially produced full sized drawings to ensure correct proportions and perspectives and reduced them in size to 2/3 of the original to cover the 3,500 square feet of the church ceiling. The original frescoes covered 5000 square feet. Bevans then proceeded to start painting sections of the ceiling which included 500 figures. He mainly worked in the evenings, often late in to the night, sometimes in the hot conditions of high summer and also in the deep cold of Winter. It took him five years to complete the ceiling - interestingly this was comparable to the length of time Michelangelo's took to finish the Vatican one. It was finally completed in 1993 and it remains, as far as I am aware, the only near full-sized copy of the original in the world.
 |
| THE CHURCH CEILING DURING THE PAINTING OF THE CEILING WITH BEVAN'S DRAWINGS VISIBLE AND THE SCAFFOLDING HE USED TO CREATE THE REPRODUCTION OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL CEILING |
Having recently seen the original I could remember all the main panels taken from stories in the Book of Genesis including the separation of sky from water, the creation of Adam, the creation of Eve, the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the Great Flood and the drunkenness of Noah. Careful accommodation had been made to represent the ignudi figures, the Sibyls and the relatives of Jesus Christ. When you look at the photographs below you will see how clever Bevans has been in reproducing the illusions of depth and perspective in the lower reaches of the vault. Bevans is known to have said that he did little to introduce himself as an artist in to the work. He wanted it to be as convincing as possible.
 |
| TEMPTATION & EXPULION FROM THE GARDEN PANEL MARTYRS' CHURCH GORING ON SEA |
Today people visit the church from all over the world and there were some other visitors there with us. Evidently 15,000 visitors a year is now the norm. At one point I saw a lady wheeling what looked like one of those gilded hostess trolleys down the aisle and I thought it was someone going to make the tea. I then realised it was a visitor using the trolley which had a mirror inserted on the top shelf making it possible to view the murals without having to crick her neck! A nice touch I thought.
As I write this posting once again I'm intrigued and baffled by the coincidence of making the visit to see the original ceiling in Rome with my discovery and viewing of this church ceiling in Goring-on- Sea. I would recommend a special trip to see it if you can.
I'm indebted to the church information leaflet which I bought for 25 pence which helped me with background for this article and for another article which appeared in the local daily rag - The Argus - in June 2009 - the month Gary Bevans was inaugurated as a Deacon of the Martyrs' church.
The Church of the English Martyrs is at Goring Way, Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex. Tel 01903 506890. Parish Priest 01903 242624. Information about opening times is available on the internet.
Ciao
Ian
This is just one post of many Pleasethat focus on my Italian interests. I'd be thrilled if you choose to read others! Please share this post if you know someone who might be interested in it. Many thanks - Ian
