The £60,000 proceeds of a John Constable painting sold by Feering Church will go towards vital restoration work.

The portrait of the Risen Christ was sold to a group of art lovers based at Gainsborough's House, Sudbury, in July.

Officials at the Diocese of Chelmsford are now clearing the way for some of the money to be used for vital repair work to the church.

Chelmsford Diocese spokesman the Rev Philip Banks said some of the £60,000 was going towards a new heating system in the church.

He said: "It is extremely expensive installing central heating into a medieval building.

"The rest of the money will go into a trust."

The painting was donated to the church by the Rev Aubrey Moody who has been the village's vicar for more than 40 years.

The Suffolk-based consortium of art lovers were keen to keep the painting in East Anglia and set up a trust to buy the portrait.

A spokesman for the group said: "There had been a lot of concern about keeping it in the area. Now the group of art lovers have achieved their wishes."

A copy of the painting has been made by auctioneers Christie's and now hangs in Feering Church in the position of the original painting.

The original Risen Christ painting was exhibited at Gainsborough's House earlier this month.

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