Kettering artist marks Barton Seagrave church's 900th anniversary with painting gift

Artist Rosie Jarvis with her painting of St Botolph's Church. She is gifting it to the church to mark its 900th anniversary

A Kettering artist is marking the 900th anniversary of a Barton Seagrave church with a painting.

Rosie Jarvis decided to paint something for St Botolph's Church when the pandemic restrictions meant the planned celebrations could not go ahead.

She said: "This year, 2020, was due to be a time of great celebration for St Botolph's Church as there has been a church there for 900 years.

St Botolph's Church in Barton Seagrave is marking its 900th anniversary

"They had many wonderful events planned, organised by Derek Wade, including a special peal of bells and a flower festival.

"They were going to have an art exhibition, so I thought I would do a painting."

Rosie said those involved in the church's 900th anniversary celebrations were devastated by the cancellations forced by the virus.

She said: "I just thought I will do a painting and gift it to them, so then there is something to remember this year by and hopefully celebrations will happen another time."

The Kettering artist visited St Botolph's to sketch before she started her acrylic painting. Rosie said she felt the view of the church in a painting would be incomplete without the war memorial and Church House that sit either side of St Botolph.

Rosie said: "You cannot get them in one picture but you always see these three together and think of them together, so I thought I will do a triple progression."

The result is a trio of paintings to create one landscape view of the war memorial, St Botolph's Church, and the Church House.

Rosie has had the painting framed by On The Edge framers, based in Market Harborough, and will add an engraving that says: "St Botolph's 900 Year Anniversary 2020 - The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases."

The painting will be presented to St Botolph's Church tomorrow (Wednesday, October 14).

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