30/10/2025
Two painting conservators from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) visited St Mary’s Church in Grandtully, Perthshire, to conserve the unique ceiling. The church’s ceiling was first painted in the 1600s and is divided into roundels and arches with carious coats of arms, saints and proverbs within them. The central panel is thought to depict the Last Judgement.
The ceiling was commissioned by Sir William Stewart and Dame Agnes Moncrieff, whose arms adorn the ceiling. It is painted in a style typical of Scottish Renaissance, using mainly earth pigments with green and blue accents painted onto a white preparation layer. Due to the organic nature of the ceiling’s timbers and the paint, it is particularly susceptible to changes in the environment, which is monitored as part of condition surveys.
St Mary’s Church was taken into care in 1944. At the time, the ceiling and roof were in poor condition, and they have since been treated repeatedly for insect damage and timber rot. To ensure this unique artwork lasts as long as possible, its condition is now surveyed every five years, and this conservation work was deemed necessary after last year’s survey. Painting conservators Ailsa Murray and Briege Thomas from HES conserved the ceiling by fixing flaking paint into place and cleaning loose dirt and debris.
