LOOKING at the outside of the English Martyrs Church you would be forgiven for not giving it a second glance.

But the unassuming Sixties-built Catholic church in Goring Way, Worthing, hides a hidden gem.

on its ceiling is the world’s only hand-painted replica of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

Last year the ceiling attracted 12,000 visitors and it is listed as the second best tourist attraction in Worthing on travel review website TripAdvisor.

Parish secretary Anne Niven said: “We have been having visitors for the last 23 years, but two years ago the national press got hold of the story, so it increased the number. The year before last we had 15,000 visitors, so we are very pleased.

“They come from all over the world – from Australia, Canada and America.”

The man behind the feat, Gary Bevans, spent more than five years painting the impressive replica which is two-thirds the size of the original, created by Michelangelo in the 16th century.

Gary, then aged 33, took on the monumental task after a pilgrimage to Rome. A signwriter by profession, he had never had an art lesson in his life but after seeking permission he spent the next five years drawing and painting 500 figures, finally finishing his masterpiece in 1993.

Gary later returned to the church as a deacon in 2009.

The attraction now has a TripAdvisor certificate of excellence and has attracted hundreds of positive ratings.

The attraction is free to view and funds raised from visitors’ donations enable the church to help its parishioners.

Mrs Nivens said: “It enables us to run other programmes, like groups for toddlers and lonely people, and we don’t have to charge them .”