OXFORD — The Oxford Congregational Church at 252 King Street is sponsoring a benefit concert on Nov. 27 to help repair and restore its roof and historic Trompe L’Oeil ceiling mural.

Christmas is Concert is free to the public, but organizers are asking for donations to help preserve the artwork, which is threatened by water damage from the church roof. The concert will be from 2-3:30 p.m. and will feature house organist Joyce Franklin and singing performances by Kelsey Franklin Sukeforth and Friends.

“This concert is a gift from Joyce, who plays in churches around the area,” said Pastor Lindy Howe. “I want everyone to know it is because of her. And I hope it becomes an annual event.”

The concert will be the kick-off to Oxford’s holiday celebrations for Christmas. Immediately following, Santa Claus will stop at different sites in town for a special mail pick-up. The festivities will continue at 5:30 p.m. with Oxford’s Annual Tree Lighting at the Anderson-Staples American Legion Post 112.

Trompe L’Oeil murals were discovered beneath old paint at Oxford Congregational Church in 1993 and later restored. Submitted

The murals inside The Oxford Congregational Church have a mysterious history. Recently formed cracks in the church ceiling are just the most recent challenges to the artwork, which had been covered by wall paint for generations, maybe 100 years or more.

Parishioner and church historian Anita Patenaude first discovered the mural on the wall behind the altar back in 1993. She had heard of longtime rumors of its existence. When the church announced plans to paint the wall – at the time a solid salmon pink – she and her husband lingered after service on Sunday, pulled down a portrait and scraped at a section of salmon. The discovered that there was indeed old works of art underneath the paint.

A special concert fundraiser to pay for art and structural restoration will be held at the Oxford Congregational Church Sunday. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat

The church then hired Farmington restoration painter Tony Castro to remove the solid paint and restore the scenery behind it.

Earlier this year church-goers notice cracks appearing in the ceiling plaster of the church. Even though no water stains are obvious, the cracks were traced to the church’s old roof, which had started to leak. The cracks quickly raced the length of the sanctuary.

Wooden scabs have been added to Oxford Congregational Church’s ceiling to stop further damage to the plaster and artwork. The church is holding a benefit concert Sunday to help fund restoration of the ceiling and roof repairs. The concert will be at 252 King Street and starts at 2 p.m. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat

After checking with other organizations around the area, Trustee Mike Patenaude made arrangements for Ed Summers, who had done restoration work to Scribners Mill, to handle the repairs. Summers got to work right away, applying band-aid scabs to the ceiling to prevent more damage. Patenaude said they were pleased to learn that Summers has worked with the restoration painter, Casto, in the past.

More information about Christmas is Concert and other fundraising plans can be found on the Oxford Congregational Church’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Oxford-Congregational-Church-UCC-1721520388094820.