Adapted from a post by Kathryn Dreyer for the Diocese of San Diego
The “Apostolic Succession” painting at All Saints’, San Diego, has been a collaborative effort with the Rev. Rob Eaton. The imagery is built upon Ephesians 3:7-10. Father Eaton wanted Jesus sitting as on a grapevine with its branches symbolizing the blessing of the apostles and its roots resting on the head and shoulders of the bishop.
“Apostolic Succession” is painted on Baltic birch wood and created with multiple layers, each sanded and stained. I used acrylic paints for this reason and used salt because of its texturizing properties. It also happens to be an ingredient in Holy Water and I thought it was rather appropriate. The gold leaf was applied last. This painting has been an honor to paint and labor of love with considerable research and dedicated disciplines. It has been a prayerful experience.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
