A church is calling on the public to help it raise £30,000 for restoration after it was confirmed a painting which has hung over its altar for over a century was a contemporary copy.

The painting has had pride of place since 1890 at the only Grade I listed building in Redbridge, St Mary's Church, in Overton Drive, Wanstead.

Now, after initial assessment work at the Courtauld Institute in central London, the painting has been confirmed as a contemporary studio copy of a work called The Entombment of Christ by the 17th-century Italian painter Il Guercino.

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, nicknamed Guercino (the squinter) was born in 1591, lived in Rome and Bologna and was one of the leading artists of his time.

His patrons included Pope Gregory XV, Maria de' Medici of France and Charles I of England.

The original is held by Chicago’s institute of art and parishioner John Garlick had the idea to look further into its history when he visited the American city.

He said: “The painting above our altar was dark and dingy because it hasn’t been in the right atmosphere but this original was wonderful, bright and colourful.

“We spoke to the curator who was very interested as there are very few copies, organised a visit our church and said it was definitely contemporary and needed more research.

“It was exciting when the Courtauld Institute confirmed it was a contemporary copy and we were relieved that it wasn’t the original because our insurance costs would have skyrocketed.

“It will be wonderful to have the painting back and newly restored.

“We are hoping to have it done by the Christmas carol service because the church is packed but we shall see if that is possible.”

The Glamour on the Green, with food and classical music on Christ Church Green was held on September 12 and has raised around £2,000 towards the target.

The next fundraising event, led by Pippa Balch, a lecturer in the conservation of easel paintings and supervisor of the assessment project, is at 6.30pm on October 1 at the church and costs £10.

To donate click here.