News

During the Memorial service of the former Dean of Winchester Cathedral, The Very Revd James Atwell in 2021, a collection took place and the donations went towards the making of a unique processional cross in his memory. The Very Revd James Atwell will be dedicated at the Eucharist on Sunday 1 May.

Sophie Hacker, an artist who specialises in linking art with theology, took on the project of designing and making this cross using a mix of diverse materials and innovative techniques.

The cross is modelled from wheat and wax then cast in bronze. The wheat was sourced from a local farmer, Peveril Bruce, and the bronze casting took place at the Talos Art Foundry, Project Workshops, near Andover.

Inspired by the work of Grinling Gibbons, a harvest mouse ‘nest’ was made out of lime wood to adorn the cross; lime wood was chosen as it is the preferred timber for carving, due to its beautiful detail.

The staff is made from English oak, and carved by Alex Jones, also local to Winchester.

Both the nest and staff are painted in glazing medium, pigments and bronze powder by Sophie and the proportions used on the cross and staff were based on the Golden Section.

The overarching theme of the cross was ‘Resurrection’, Sophie Hacker cites John 12:24 “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the making of this cross.

On Sunday 1^st May at 11am, a Sung Eucharist with Dedication of a Processional Cross will take place. Everyone is welcome to attend this service, in person or via live stream.

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Update (3/5/22) Please see below photographs from the Sung Eucharist with Dedication of a Processional Cross which took place on Sunday 1st May 2022 at 11am.