Spot the Essex clergyman in historic painting

Ed: Can anyone help with this? "However there is one elusive model and that is the priest at the window. He is described as a 'clergyman from Essex' and I have tried to identify this character through the Church of England Diocese of Chelmsford but with no success."

A Painting depicting one of the most famous episodes in the history of a Mearns town is set to be restored to its former glory.

Volunteers at an Aberdeenshire church are raising funds to pay for the £2,000 restoration of the 1865 work by George Washington Brownlow, Baptism from a Stonehaven Jail.

The painting, which hangs in the town's Tollbooth museum, is owned by the Bishop of Brechin, the Rev John Mantle.

It depicts a turbulent time in the history of the Scottish Episcopal Church, following the Battle of Culloden in 1746, and shows a clergy-man behind bars baptising a bairn.

George Masson, a member of St Ternan's Episcopal Church, Muchalls, is now leading a fundraising drive to raise the money needed to pay a professional to conserve the piece.

He said: "It is a wonderful painting and the difference when the expert did one tiny area was amazing.

"The colours are very vibrant and it would be nice to see it restored to the way it should be.

"It is a very important work and at one time or another every episcopal church in Scotland will have displayed a copy."

As part of the project Mr Masson is also hoping to conduct further research into those depicted in the painting.

He added: "Most - if not all - of the locals Brownlow used for his models in the painting have been identified.

"In fact I know of at least three descendants, myself included, of people in the painting.

"However there is one elusive model and that is the priest at the window.

"He is described as a 'clergyman from Essex' and I have tried to identify this character through the Church of England Diocese of Chelmsford but with no success."

Mr Masson is hoping Press and Journal readers may hold the answers and is appealing for anyone with information about the painting to contact him on 01224 733583 or by e-mailing george.masson@limeone.net Read more
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