100 Year Old Church Murals Honoring WWI Fallen Are Being Rescued From Ruin
The Church of England has launched a conservation project to preserve WWI era murals by Walter Starmer at St Jude on the Hill in London.
Church of England Launches Major Conservation Project to Save Historic WWI Murals at St Jude's Hampstead
The Church of England has announced a landmark conservation project to preserve over 100 year old wall paintings at St Jude on the Hill in Hampstead Garden Suburb, north London. The murals, painted by artist Walter Starmer between 1919 and 1930, were commissioned to honour fallen soldiers of the First World War.
Starmer, a World War I artist, stained glass artist, and children's book illustrator, was commissioned in 1919 to decorate the Lady Chapel of the church designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The murals depict women of the Bible and female saints and heroines from Christian history, celebrating "women's contribution to the Church and nation."
Six master's degree conservation students from the Courtauld Institute of Art spent six weeks conducting fieldwork in the Lady Chapel, examining Starmer's original painting techniques and assessing the condition of the artworks. The paintings suffer from flaking paint, salt activity, structural damage, blanching, and dirt accumulation.
The project is being funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the J. Paul Getty Trust, and the Church's new conservation grant scheme. It represents the first stage of a multi year collaboration between St Jude's and the Courtauld Institute.
The site offers "a really wonderful" opportunity for students to learn practical wall painting conservation methods.
Lecturer Sibylla Tringham, who oversees the project, described the significance of the hands on training for the next generation of conservators.
Historic English Church Murals Saved From Decay Through New Conservation Partnership
Bishop of Edmonton Anderson Jeremiah visited the project and noted that the works represent "a remarkable tribute to the role of women in the Church." St Jude's has been on the Heritage At Risk Register since 2015, making the conservation effort all the more urgent.
The project is planned to continue for several years in approximately six week phases, with the first phase running from January to March 2026 focusing on dome investigations and treatment trials. The Courtauld describes the painted scheme as "one of the most complete and extensive painted schemes of the early 20th century."
The Crusader's Opinion
These murals are not just paint on walls. They are a testimony of faith carved into the very bones of a nation that once called itself Christian. Walter Starmer painted them to honour the fallen and to proclaim the role of godly women throughout Scripture and history. That this church has sat on an "at risk" register since 2015 while billions flow to projects that have nothing to do with preserving our Christian heritage tells you everything about where our priorities lie. Thank God for the students and scholars willing to do the painstaking work of preservation. Every church, every mural, every stained glass window we lose is a piece of Christendom we will never get back.
Take Action
- Visit: Plan a visit to St Jude on the Hill in Hampstead Garden Suburb to see the murals and support the parish directly.
- Donate: Support the conservation of Christian heritage sites through the National Churches Trust, which works to preserve churches across the UK.
- Learn: Explore the Hampstead Garden Suburb Virtual Museum collection on St Jude's murals to understand the full scope of Starmer's work.
- Share: Share this story with your church community. Christian heritage preservation needs public support and awareness to continue receiving funding.
- Give: Support broader Christian community efforts at www.TheShepherdsShield.org to strengthen the Body of Christ worldwide.
