Rare chairs like gift from heaven for poor church

From British Columbia- (What's in your nave?)

A mysterious pair of 17thcentury Ming dynasty armchairs could answer the prayers of an impoverished Victoria parish.

The chairs, which sat virtually unnoticed in the nave of St. Matthias Anglican Church for more than 20 years, have an estimated value of $180,000 to $250,000 and will be auctioned at Sotheby's fine Chinese works of art sale on Sept. 11 in New York.

"It's quite an astonishing turn of events," said rector Rev. Robert Arril, who often sat for a moment in the 300-year-old chairs, enjoying the luxurious warmth of the huanghuali wood, an extremely rare Chinese rosewood.

"We're a benevolent presence in the community. What these chairs mean is that we'll be able to carry on."

In March 2009, Arril was parachuted into the troubled parish after 250 members of its congregation left to join the more conservative Anglican Network in Canada. With only about 30 members left, St. Matthias was plunged into penury and began renting out its hall and other meeting rooms, Arril said.

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