A STONE carving depicting The Last Supper – and dating back more than 100 years – was re-dedicated during a church service in Yeadon.

The reredos was a focal point at a special service that also marked the 171st anniversary of St John’s Church.

The stone artwork was restored in 2014 at a cost of £25,000 thanks to contributions from church members and grants from charities, including Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust. It was cleaned, repaired and structurally strengthened.

To celebrate the restoration and to re-dedicate the reredos to the service of God, a special service of Holy Communion was held on July 19 when the Archdeacon of Leeds, the Venerable Paul Hooper, presided.

Local historian and church treasurer, David Norfolk said: "The reredos was installed in the church in 1894, the final piece in the enlargement and re-ordering of the building, which had been taking place during the previous two years.

"Given anonymously, it was carved from Caen stone by Jones and Willis, a firm of church monument builders, of Birmingham and London. An ornate portrayal of The Last Supper on an elaborately carved background, with buttresses and finials, it provided a new focus to the worship at St John’s, and has continued to do so ever since."

St John’s Church vicar, The Rev Richard Walker, said: "It was great that on the 171st anniversary of St John’s Church, we should be able to re-dedicate the central feature of its sanctuary – this beautiful stone carving of The Last Supper.

"Even better that we could do so with a full building and a service of Holy Communion led by the Archdeacon of Leeds. It was quite an occasion.”

Congregation member Jenny Thompson, who oversaw the project, said the cleaning and restoration process was undertaken by specialists Hirst's of Lincoln.

She added: "The screen was pinned securely with steel plates to ensure no further movement or cracks. Each section was carefully cleaned using specialist techniques.

"Damaged areas were repaired sympathetically and missing digits restored. The original, matching pulpit frontal, now hanging on the adjacent wall, was also cleaned."