Jesus Christ has risen in Sussex - and he's wearing jeans

1:00pm Wednesday 13th May 2009 in News By Naomi Loomes

Jesus Jesus

He could be a singer, an actor or even a footballer.

But this is no mere entertainer - this is Jesus Christ and he’s wearing jeans.

The 21st Century depiction of the Son of God will now welcome the modern masses at a Catholic church in Uckfield.

This week the new bronze statue was hoisted more than 100 ft to the top of the bell tower at Our Lady Immaculate and St Philip Neri Church.

Award winning sculptor Marcus Cornish, who lives in Lewes, was commissioned to make the bronze seven-foot contemporary version of Jesus.

On Sunday it will have the last accessory added – an eye-catching halo picked out in gold leaf.

Mr Cornish, whose work have been bought by the Prince of Wales, said: "The sculpture is simple and direct and I hope it sums up the feeling that Christ is always with us and that we are not to be afraid."

The statue has been carefully positioned so it is not sitting symmetrically but is looking directly down on the congregation as they enter the church.

Mr Cornish, who completed the sculpture in just under a year, said: "His clothing is being blown vigorously to add to the sense of him being alive and his strength in defying earthly cares.

"The clothing is loosely contemporary in order to connect Christ to his people now as much as to his past.

"I hope this sculpture will inspire and communicate in very human terms, reaching out and being relevant to both the congregation and local community."

The decision to have a modern day Jesus to greet parishioners was made by the Catholic parishioners in Uckfield in May last year to mark the 50th anniversary of the church's foundation.

Baroness Cumberlege, who led the initiative, said: "It was thanks to a generous benefactor, the late Mrs Winifred Gregory, that the church was able to seek out the best sculptor in the land."

She added: "When there has been so much controversy surrounding modern sculptures I am delighted that this project has the whole-hearted support of the parish and the local school."

Parish priest Father David Buckley said the more he saw the new addition to his church the more he appreciated it.

He said: "We are very lucky to have it because usually a commission of this size would only be associated with cathedrals or large towns.

"It can be admired and shared by everybody. It is not just something for our own community.

"When the sun catches the halo it will be quite a spectacular sight."

Comments(18)

Brigadier Monty says...
1:12pm Wed 13 May 09

21st Century depiction of god? There isn't one.

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Txa says...
1:19pm Wed 13 May 09

... and a very western looking and he's blond probably. ;)

But I'm impress by the wind effect on the clothing, great illusive idea!, looking forward to see the full sculpture.


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Brigadier Monty says...
1:32pm Wed 13 May 09

If anyone has any doubts whatsoever that god does not exist and if you seem confused and bewildered by "god", read the God Delusion and you will be convinced otherwise :)

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Txa says...
1:35pm Wed 13 May 09

Brigadier Monty wrote:
If anyone has any doubts whatsoever that god does not exist and if you seem confused and bewildered by "god", read the God Delusion and you will be convinced otherwise :)
Oh no!, Another jehova witness type pushing to read their bibles, ;)

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Cry Me A River says...
1:37pm Wed 13 May 09

So...

He looks western...
and white.

But Jesus (if he had existed) was a JEW from the MIDDLE EAST.

What a joke.

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anonymous coward says...
2:13pm Wed 13 May 09

Well, although Jesus was a dark skinned, arab, Jew, these days he would of course come back as a Westener because we're so much better than all the other pagan scum.

Oh yes, also idolatry!


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podvizhnik says...
2:50pm Wed 13 May 09

Oh my! He's rather luvly and butch.

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alfieconnection says...
3:04pm Wed 13 May 09

Txa wrote:
... and a very western looking and he's blond probably. ;) But I'm impress by the wind effect on the clothing, great illusive idea!, looking forward to see the full sculpture.
its not that clever, the wind was blowing from the opposite direction

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Txa says...
3:59pm Wed 13 May 09

alfieconnection wrote:
Txa wrote: ... and a very western looking and he's blond probably. ;) But I'm impress by the wind effect on the clothing, great illusive idea!, looking forward to see the full sculpture.
its not that clever, the wind was blowing from the opposite direction
It is, making the elements part of it, brilliant!

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Teresa Green says...
5:09pm Wed 13 May 09

Cry Me A River wrote:
So... He looks western... and white. But Jesus (if he had existed) was a JEW from the MIDDLE EAST. What a joke.
How can a bronze statue look white ?

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Txa says...
5:15pm Wed 13 May 09

Teresa Green wrote:
Cry Me A River wrote: So... He looks western... and white. But Jesus (if he had existed) was a JEW from the MIDDLE EAST. What a joke.
How can a bronze statue look white ?
facial features, perhaps?

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Teresa Green says...
5:23pm Wed 13 May 09

Txa wrote:
Teresa Green wrote:
Cry Me A River wrote: So... He looks western... and white. But Jesus (if he had existed) was a JEW from the MIDDLE EAST. What a joke.
How can a bronze statue look white ?
facial features, perhaps?
Maybe....
p.s. how can the trousers be described as jeans ?

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Txa says...
5:59pm Wed 13 May 09

Teresa Green wrote:
Txa wrote:
Teresa Green wrote:
Cry Me A River wrote: So... He looks western... and white. But Jesus (if he had existed) was a JEW from the MIDDLE EAST. What a joke.
How can a bronze statue look white ?
facial features, perhaps?
Maybe.... p.s. how can the trousers be described as jeans ?
they probably are not, either. But he definitely is wearing western clothes, can you guess their colour? :D :D

okay-deal



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Txa says...
6:14pm Wed 13 May 09

Still art has always been use as a very subtle and sophisticated way to sell religion. That's very CLEVER.

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alfieconnection says...
6:24pm Wed 13 May 09

i wonder what that priest is holding in his pocket

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Txa says...
6:36pm Wed 13 May 09

isn't he the sculptor?

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alfieconnection says...
7:55pm Wed 13 May 09

Txa wrote:
isn't he the sculptor?
i stand corrected, they would make a good double act, "now say gottle o geer, gottle o geer"

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mr punch says...
2:13pm Thu 14 May 09

Brigadier Monty wrote:
If anyone has any doubts whatsoever that god does not exist and if you seem confused and bewildered by "god", read the God Delusion and you will be convinced otherwise :)
The God Delusion is a book by yet another bloke who is trying to convince us that he is God himself. Think back to how everyone laughed at David Ike all them years ago, same thing; different author. All the time people get sucked in by this rubbish it will remain.
Anyway, everyone knows that the 'real' God is Fabio Cappello. (for now anyways!)

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