Dr Rigney closed the painting, which hangs in the St Nicholas Chapel and depicts St Nicholas's three miracles, last week.

He will consult parishioners tomorrow on the move and the painting's future place in the cathedral.

The triptych, by John Montefiore, is hinged, allowing the outer panels to be closed inward on the main panel.

It has hung in the Anglican cathedral for 30 years and was painted in consultation with the 12th Dean of Newcastle Robert Beal to honour notable Newcastle resident Lester Saddington, OBE.

The central panel shows the miracle of the pickled boys, when St Nicholas, the patron saint of children, resurrected boys who had been killed and pickled for human consumption. It also shows male genitalia.

Dr Rigney said he closed the artwork because he thought it was inappropriate to display an image of that kind in light of revelations of child abuse by members of churches in the Hunter.

"We are in a different place [to when it was painted] and we need to think if it reflects how we feel today," he said.

Gabrielle Beal, daughter of the late Robert Beal who oversaw the composition and installation of the piece in the late 1970s, said the "censorship" was without merit.

"The painting was closed off without proper consultation," Ms Beal said.

"The fact is it was done with reference to biblical texts in consultation with my father."

The painting was not visible during the Feast of the Senses art exhibition last weekend. Postcards with a photograph of the painting were on sale at the Cathedral gift shop yesterday.

Parishioners will have the opportunity to hear Dr Rigney's reasons at services at 7am, 8am and 9.30am tomorrow.