Stain Below Jesus Painting in Newport Church Seen as a Sign from God

The spiritual leader of Saint John the Evangelist in Newport is telling parishioners that a red stain under a painting of Jesus in the church is a sign of a holy presence.

Rev. Nathan J.A. Humphrey said in a recent sermon that the mark on the wall, which appears beneath the feet of Jesus at the Twelfth Station of the Cross is evidence that “Christ is present at St. John’s.”

Humphrey said the church is not advertising it as a miracle, nor is he making any claim.

“The mark has been there for years--washed off from time to time, as I understand it, yet reappearing. People have noticed it and remarked upon it before. Some find it deeply moving, located as it is directly beneath the bleeding feet of Jesus. I know I do,” Humphrey said.

Attention came to the church earlier this spring after a devout Fall River Roman Catholic sent a note to media outlets letting them know that a “mysterious red substance” could be found on the wall below the 13th Station of the Cross.

That man, Daryl Gonyon, “noticed that this streak of red seemed to flow directly from Jesus’ bleeding feet on the Cross, and took it upon himself to share his discovery with the media.”

The church has no plans to have the red mark tested, though they’re open every day and Humphrey said anyone is welcome to see it.

“The church is open every day to all to come and see for themselves. The best way to make up your mind about it, either as a scoffer or a saint, is to come and see,” he said. “At the very least, it gets you thinking! And for some people, it connects their hearts and their heads in ways that even the most moving art on its own does not.”

The 140-year-old church has 14 paintings for the Stations of the Cross. Humphrey told the Providence Journal that they came from Belgium in the 1920s and are painted on tin and framed in wood.

Because they are embedded in the plaster of the church walls, checking behind the paintings is difficult, if not impossible. It is possible that the stain could be rust from the tin and Humphrey said that anyone is welcome to test the substance.

Still, even if it is rust, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is not the work of God, Humphrey said. If it inspires someone to realize that the crucifixion is not just an event from the past, but something that “breaks into the here and now,” he said.

“The Spirit moves, sometimes miraculously, sometimes mundanely in our lives. We never know what will bring a person to St. John’s - or what will keep that person coming back,” he said. “But we always know Who brings that person here. When we keep that in mind, we will, I hope, be mindful of what we assume about or say to the people who come here, whether out of curiosity or devotion or any other motive.”

A former Parishioner Lori Quinn said that she remembered seeing the stain appear after it was cleared.

“Spent a lot of time in that church and always considered that to be a miracle,” she said.

Humphrey came to the congregation as vicar in 2013. He is credited with increasing Sunday attendance and donations.

Photo: St. John the Evangelist via Facebook