Scottish Catholic Observer

A Catholic church outside London has brought a little colour to the lives of its community and parish by installing a variety of portraits on the church’s railings.

Pope Francis and Oscar Romero are amongst the inspiring figures found at St Joseph’s Church in Bracknell, as are the young education activist Malala Yousafzai, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and, er, Harry Potter.

The paintings were created by people throughout the community, including local schoolchildren, parishioners, art groups and a patient at the nearby Broadmoor hospital who was taking part in art therapy.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, is among those those praising the Bracknell Community Gallery.

“The people featured in this gallery are inspirational for many reasons,” Cardinal Nichols said. “An example to us and a source of strength and encouragement to pursue our own goals and find fulfilment in our own lives.”

Creator and coordinator Hugh Gibbons said the portraits in the gallery make an eye-catching panorama, specially made to fit on the railings. Each is on plywood about 1000mm deep by 600mm wide. Many of the figures have a hand raised in greeting, and passers-by are encouraged to wave back.

“Some have never picked up a paintbrush in their lives, but are very inspiring in themselves as good sports with the spirit to have a go,” Mr Gibbons said about the amateur artists involved. “And they’ve been very surprised at how talented they are.”

Mr Gibbons added that the gallery is ‘something educational, amusing, and uplifting, for little cost—a visual voice about values and talents to share, for the good of their local community.’

In July, the gallery will be reinvented with panels covered in Flowers and Kisses for Malala. All schools in the area are being invited to join the social justice project, which marks Ms Yousafzai’s 18th birthday, to show solidarity with the UN and other voices in support of every child’s right to primary education.

—For more information visit www.bracknellcommunitygallery.org

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