Medley portrait to remain in Cathedral

by Harvey Malmberg
Diocesan Archivist

Those who have seen and enjoyed the portrait of Bishop John Medley hanging on the north wall of the nave at Christ Church Cathedral since late 1994 will be pleased to learn that it will continue to grace the Cathedral at least until 2003.

The portrait is on loan from Wadham College of Oxford University, which Bishop Medley attended. It was painted by Mr. John Bridges and presented to Wadham by the Rev. Edward Wyndham Tefnell in 1849, four years after Medley's appointment as the first Bishop of Fredericton. For many years the paintain lay in storage in the college.

In the 1980s, while he was doing graduate work at Oxford University, the Rev. Bruce McKenna and his wife Mary Lee learned of its existance and enthusiastically brought it to the attention of the Diocesan Archives Committee. At about the same time Mr. Charles Ferris, a memnber of the committee, also learned of the portrait's existence. All three thought it should be brought to this diocese for exhibition.

The Archives Committee agreed, and authorized Mr. Ferris to conduct the necessary negotiations on its behalf. Following approval from the Bishop and Chapter for the portrait to hang in the Cathedral, Mr. Ferris undertook to negotiate with the officials of Wadham College to procure it on permanent or long-term loan.

In 1992, after much communication back and forth, the College agreed to make the portrait available to the diocese for a five year term. It arrived in Fredericton on October 31, 1993. Sadly it was in a damaged condition because of careless handling by the shippers. Fortunately expert restorers in the province, including Greg Tracy and Adam Karpowicz, were able to make the necessary repairs.

The portrait was hung in the Cathedral in time for the Diocesan Sesquicentennial in 1995.

Realizing the five year-term expired in 1998, Mr. Ferris again contacted Wadham College and asked for an extension. The College has graciously agreed to extend the loan until 2003.

Sincere thanks go to Wadham for making the portrait available and to Mr. Ferris for making the necessary arrangements.