The sculptor writes: "It was a fox's head that beckoned me towards Christ though I didn't know it at the time. I was at the foot of the west front at Wells Cathedral looking up at all the intricate detail and wondering what was the motivation behind this beautiful work. In the spring of 1979 I landed a job there conserving the carvings and I was able to confirm my suspicions. The detail didn't falter in quality right up to the tiny fox's head perched on a pinnacle one hundred feet up. There was no need to carve in such detail so high that it couldn't be seen from the ground. The only conclusion I could arrive at was that the carvers were not only carving for our benefit but to the glory of their God."
The sculpture shows Christ rising from the grave and breaking the bonds of death. The burial windings are torn asunder as he ascends. This triumphant image has been used throughout Christian history. It displays the point at which, literally, the wraps come off, and we see the Son of God in all his majesty totally inviolate. The figure of Christ is not fixed to the ground now but rises above it. The grave is split by the force of this unveiling.
The carving of this life sized figure uses three blocks of Bath stone, which is local
limestone from the Bath Stone Group Quarries at Limpley Stoke. One block is for the
plinth, and two for the body. The blocks are sawn to the most basic parameters of
the figure at the stone yard and assembled on site. The carving starts from an unrecognisable
abstract shape and this allows the magic of transformation to work. As I carve away
the stone with my hammer and chisels you will be able to follow the progress from
rough block to fully-
The finished work will remain in the courtyard where it will have a commanding presence among onlookers both at close quarters and from the pavement. The sculpture will be a surprise for strangers using this quieter secondary passage to Orange Grove and an enhancement of a quiet corner. Most of the carving around Bath is up high or in quiet corners. We come across them by accident or pass them with a familiar glance upward. These carvings enliven the spaces they occupy by engaging us as thoughtfully we go by. This sculpture is a Christian statement about the meaning of the millennium. Christ is risen and lives in us! It is an affirmation of our faith which displays the commitment that underlines our desire to serve the community in a vibrant lively way 2000 years on. As the carving is carried out over the spring months I hope you will return to view the progress and ask questions.
The sculpture is the gift of the Friends of Bath Abbey.
If you would like to be part of this you can make a donation to
The Friends of Bath Abbey
Bath Abbey Office 13 Kingston Buildings Bath BA1 1LT .