Our Lady's Statue

Our Lady's Statue renovated!

During the Centenary reburbishedment of the church it was decided that the old wooden statue of Our Lady deserved some attention. It had been allowed to deteriorate badly over time, particularly ever since it had been "dipped and stripped" back to bare wood some years ago.

There was evidence of water damage from roof leaks, heat damage from being storad too near the boiler at one time and even some old woodworm! The crown had disintregated and the hands were coming apart and falling off.

A retired wood carver, John Palmer of Stafford, was comissioned to undertake the statue renovation and Fisher Decorations, also of Stafford, to repaint it to something like its original condition.

The end result has far exceeded expections! A new crown has been hand carved from a single block of wood, all the damage has been treated and filled, the hands have been reglued and the decoration has included golf leaf on the crown and outer garment.

Unveiled on the feast of the Immacultate Heart of Mary and re-sited on to a new oak plinth, Our Lady's statue is now greatly admired by our parishioners and visitors and has encourged new devotions to Our Blessed Mother.

The renovation was funded though a bequest by Father Peter Heath, RIP, a retired priest who had lived in our parish until his death. He had a great devotion to Our Lady so that was a fitting memorial to him.

Photographs of Our Lady's Statue July 2007