The stone cross on the east end gable of St Mary's church fell to the ground during the gales just before Christmas 2013. It is being replaced by one newly sculptured by local stonemasons Elliott Brotherton, based at Broad Oak, near Rye. The picture of the cross lying on scaffold boards high up outside the east window shows the detailed artistry of the work undertaken by this firm, although these days of course it was not carved by hand. The design had to be derived from photographs of the former cross, because when it fell it shattered into many pieces and was impossible to re-assemble. "It was so badly eroded, it was a wonder it hadn't fallen before", said John Gurney, church surveyor to St Mary's.
The scaffolding will remain in place for a short while until contractors have installed a new lightning conductor at the east end gable to replace one that was badly corroded. Because of the building's height and exposed position, this is one of several lightening conductors on the structure, others being on the tower, the weather vane and the flagpole.
photo: Kenneth Bird
