A memorial to a four-year-old boy by sculptor and typeface designer Eric Gill has been uncovered at a church.

The plaque at St John’s church in Buckhurst Hill High Road was carved in memory of Johnnie Mann, who died in 1925 of a bone infection.

It shows a child dropping a toy train and reaching for a hand, with the inscription ‘To see the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in His temple’.

It was uncovered as the work of Gill, who designed the Gill Sans typeface and whose sculptures are displayed at BBC Broadcasting House, Westminster Cathedral and the headquarters of Transport for London, by members of the Loughton Historical Society.

Member John Harrison was contacted by his friend Jonathan Del Mar, Johnnie Mann’s nephew, who said the plaque in the church was by Gill, a friend of the family.

Mr Harrison and fellow society member Lynn Haseldine-Jones found there was no record that the memorial was by Gill and contacted the Eric Gill Society.

They said an inventory made by Gill’s brother listed the work, but not its location.

Mr Harrison said: “The society seemed quite excited about it and it’s a significant find.

“I think they were very pleased about this discovery.”

A debate on whether Gill’s work could be appreciated was sparked after a biography was published in 1989 revealing that he had sex with his sisters, daughters and even the family dog.

Mr Harrison said: “Until about three months ago, I knew next to nothing about Gill.

“It seems he was quite a complicated character and although he had religious beliefs, he went in for child abuse.

“He’s still a significant artist.”

The plaque is covered while builders carry out renovations at the church, which are due to finish in September.