Submitted Photo Pictured is the 23 foot long picture depicting the history of religion that was recently framed and hung in the Fredonia First Methodist Church by the Village Frame Shoppe owner, John McNiff.

FREDONIA — A 23-foot long picture depicting historical aspects of religion is looking to be installed in the Fredonia First Methodist Church, and John McNiff, owner of the Village Frame Shoppe in Fredonia recently helped with the framing and installation.

McNiff was asked by a member of the church if he could help to frame it and put it up, with everything paid for by the church member. He said he was approached a few months ago, and the picture was brought to him in a smaller package, but it was something he agreed to do, acknowledging that it would take a while.

“I thought it was very interesting because it connected with religion and it has a history of religion from the beginning all the way up through the years, and it just seemed like a very interesting project to be involved in,” McNiff said. “I wasn’t too sure if I could handle it because it was so big, but I knew when I saw it it was something I wanted to be a part of.”

There was a lot to figure out for McNiff in regards to this project, specifically the support and building a frame for it, connecting it to the frame and putting in a finish and acrylic glass, as he said he did not want it to get ruined when people come to touch it. Being 23 feet long, he said there would be no way to have acrylic that long, so he broke it into four foot sections.

Another part to figure out for McNiff was how to get it there, so he said he and his family will be carrying it through town to the church from his shop. The fasteners were put on the wall by McNiff and his son about a month ago, so when they bring it in the hope is to just be able to put it up. He added his family will be helping with the installation.

“It’s going to be like a family thing taking it over there,” McNiff said. “It’s going to be a little challenging because we have to go through a door and down a hallway and down the stairs and turn to the room it’s going to be hung in.”

The plan when talking with the Post-Journal was to hang it up sometime this week. McNiff said once it is hanging in the church people should take the opportunity to come and see it.

“I think it is just an amazing thing that people should come and see if they have any interest in religion, because the history on this thing is very interesting,” McNiff said. “It will be displayed in a church forever, so it would be neat to go and see the history of religion and how it is broken down.”

McNiff thanked the community for their support, for not only this project but supporting his business, as it is something he and his family just took over in April. He said they are working to grow the business by doing more projects, including this one, as when he took over it was not doing very well.

“It would be a good opportunity to see the kind of work we are doing, by coming to see this picture,” McNiff said.

The Fredonia First Methodist Church where the picture is hanging is located at 25 Church Street. For more information on the Village Frame Shoppe, visit fredvillageframeshoppe.com.