The Resurrection Painting

The feast of Pentecost, which we celebrated on Sunday, brings an end to the days of Easter - but the Resurrection is at the very heart of our lives no matter the season.

We are reminded of this every time we gather for our worship in our church dedicated to the Resurrection, and by the painting that hangs above the altar.

It was painted by the diplomat and artist, Arthur Victor Coverley-Price and dedicated on Easter Day in 1934. The artist had a near-death experience on an expedition through the Peruvian Andes in 1932, and so it is perhaps no coincidence that the theme of the Resurrection was clearly of great significance to him.

The painting depicts the scene in John 20. 1-7, where John and Peter run to the tomb after Mary Magdalene reports the news of the resurrection. The Gospel tells us that John outran Peter, and so got to the tomb first, peering in as Peter catches up.

The details below show John at the tomb, Peter striding along the road, and the glorious rising sun of the first Easter morning.

God of glory, by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death and hell:

fill your Church with faith and hope; for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.