Image of Jesus painted on the side of Canolfan Beulah Community Centre, Rhiwbina

A Banksy-esque Jesus has appeared in a Cardiff suburb as part of a church's preparation for Easter.

A modern-day image of Jesus has been painted on to the outside wall of Canolfan Beulah Community Centre in Rhiwbina.

The typical depiction of Jesus as a bearded man with out-stretched arms exists, but with a couple of subversions: a t-shirt and jeans.

The graffiti Jesus was painted by Beulah's artist in residency Jo Jones, as part of Beulah church's Out of the Frame project.
The project will involve a number of graffiti images of Jesus being painted on the Canolfan building, as Jesus breaks out of the frame of the church in the run-up to Easter.

All of the images will be inspired from the gospel traditions of the life of Jesus, and will draw on the work of graffiti artist Banksy.   

Reverend Dr Peter Cruchley Jones of Beulah Church said: "Jo has worked with us for the past three years, this will be the second major project she has undertaken. The first was for Christmas and explored the story of the birth of Jesus. This was an indoor project which showcased 10 moments of the birth story from when Mary met Joseph right up to the escape to Egypt.

The current image will be replaced by one of Jesus presented as the party-goer. The images aim to break the boundaries of what people typically associate with Jesus and religion.

Rev Jones said: "It's good to try and do something different. The story of Jesus is bigger than the confines we place around it, these images will subvert these confines."

Other images will include Jesus begging and Jesus under arrest. Images will be painted over and replaced each week, up until Easter.

The church will be working with local wine merchants at the end of the project to produce a special wine label containing a Jesus image to celebrate Easter.