The roof is leaking, gradually letting water seep toward the artwork. Looking beyond the colour of the murals and mosaics, the eye discerns innumerable cracks in the plaster, several areas of water streaking on paintings and at least one painting that is lifting away from the ceiling. Mr. Orme and his parishioners are concerned the water will eventually destroy the paintings skilfully designed by Fred Varley, J.E.H. Macdonald and Frank Carmichael, members of the now-famous Group of Seven, artists who transformed the art scene in Canada with their bold landscape paintings. The three members of the group helped decorate St. Anne's in the early 1920s along with several other artists and sculptors. The paintings are particularly vulnerable to water damage because they were painted on canvas then attached firmly to the wall.
Water coming in through the leaky roof can seep in behind the canvas and cause damage.
To fix the problem, the church is in desperate need of money. If you leave things too long, then it's too late. St. Anne's has always been famous for its architecture and artworks. I've been to churches in Europe and these works stand up. I love them.