Wolfhamcote Church

At the time Piper painted the picture, the church had fallen into decay, and its future looked uncertain. Complete renovations took place in the 1970s, and the building, parts of which date back to the 13th century, is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.

Piper is well known for his atmospheric depictions of historic buildings, many of them recorded during his time as an official war artist. He painted a large number of bomb-damaged buildings, sometimes when they were still on fire. The warm orange hues in this picture recall these war-time paintings, including his depictions of the ruined Coventry Cathedral following the air raids in 1940.

The painting now joins the collection of the museum at Leamington Spa. Piper visited the town in the 1950s while working on his stained-glass windows for the new Coventry Cathedral. St Peter’s, 15 miles away, is still a site of interest.