They\u2019d been there, in a quiet spot along the back wall of Victoria\u2019s St. Matthias Anglican Church, for decades \u201d\u201d possibly since the parish opened the doors of its new home in the B.C. capital nearly 50 years ago.<\/p>\n
But two elegantly designed wooden armchairs, their origin unknown to clergy or even the eldest members of the congregation, may prove to be the salvation of the financially-challenged church \u201d\u201d nothing less than a \u201cgodsend,\u201d\u009d according to St. Matthias\u2019s rector, Rev. Robert Arril.<\/p>\n
An antique-furniture buff\u2019s fortuitous visit to the church two years ago for a Bible study session has led to the identification of the chairs as rare and valuable Qing dynasty treasures, expertly crafted in 17th-century China before making their way somehow \u201d\u201d thanks to a long-forgotten donor evidently unaware of their significance \u201d\u201d to the Vancouver Island parish.<\/p>\n