A new oak cross was carved by George at AJ Bretts Restorers ( lower photo) to hold the beautifully carved Christ which the church had kept safe since it was parted from a damaged previous cross. I then masked the wood and oil gilded the moulded edge with gold leaf. You can see my tools and materials laid out whilst I was working.
I also gilded the words INRI and rather gingerly gilded the three nails and the wound in Christ's side. The Way of The Cross was very much in my mind as i gilded these last tiny details. The Cross has now been installed above the altar at St James Church in Hyde Park, London ready in time for the climax of the Christian celebrations: Easter and Christ's crucifixion and subsequent resurrection.
