Ruxley Church auctions forgotten Adrian Allinson painting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-26704769

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A painting found at the back of a cupboard is to be auctioned to help buy equipment for a new church in Surrey.

The Adrian Allinson painting, Before the Sepulchre, was discovered when Ruxley Church in Ewell was cleared before a move to a new building.

The painting was valued at £3,000 on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow broadcast in November.

The congregation moved into the new building in Ruxley Lane on 23 June last year.

The £3.2m church replaced the old Ruxley Methodist Church and the Anglican St Francis Church of Assisi which was demolished because of subsidence in 2002.

Money was raised by grants, the sale of land for housing and years of fundraising events.

The painting by the British artist, who lived from 1890 to 1959, was given to St Francis of Assisi Church in the 1960s.

Ruxley Church project treasurer Derek Eade said finding the forgotten painting was a godsend.

"Another painting by the same artist recently sold for £8,500 so we are excited to see how much it will raise towards additional equipment," he said.

The painting is being auctioned on Wednesday at Bellmans in Wisborough Green, West Sussex.