Glory revealed of church's faded relic valued at pounds 250,000

A faded tapestry which had hung for centuries on the wall of a remote rural church without attracting any more than passing attention has been identified as a 16th century masterpiece worth an estimated pounds 250,000.

The Rev David Hayes, vicar of the 14th century St Andrew's church at Presteigne, on the Herefordshire-Welsh border, said: "We knew it was special but not this special."

Its value was eventually realised by a local historian Catherine Owens, who discovered that the 3 sq metre Flemish tapestry - depicting Christ on a donkey - was woven in Antwerp in 1511, and is one of only three similar works in the world.

It was believed they were made originally to hang in Canterbury Cathedral but were later moved.

One of the others hangs in Aix-en-Provence in southern France and the third in the fine arts museum in San Francisco.

Mr Hayes, 58, added: "We were shocked and delighted to discover its true value. Like many churches we face a programme of major building work but we haven't even discussed the tapestry's future. Selling is obviously one of the options that we will have to look at."

Ms Owens, 30, said: "Ever since I was a child it has been in the church. There were all sorts of stories about it and I decided to find out the truth.

"As I looked into it the more amazed I became. I could not believe its value. It is a wonderful work."

Ironically the discovery has deprived parishioners of their treasure. Mr Hayes said: "We could not just ignore the security needs in this day and age and leave it hanging in the church. It has been removed to a place of safety while we decide on its future."