On 14 September a Christus Rex figure, which had hung in the Church of All Saints in Llanelli until its closure in 2011, was dedicated in its new home at the Church of St Andrew in Kingsbury, London. The cross was blessed by Bishop Norman Banks, the former Bishop of Richborough.
After the ceremony, Peter Jones, a director of Scene & Word, spoke briefly about the cross’s history and Jonah’s life and work. William Jones, another S&W director, was also present.
The rood cross, carved in pine by Jonah in 1979, was originally commissioned by the parents of a young man who had suffered an untimely death to be installed in the Church of St Seiriol in Holyhead, Anglesey. However, not long after, the church had to be closed due to severe structural problems, and the parents, who had moved to West Wales, had the cross transferred to the Church of All Saints (see our earlier story in 2010 about this). The church was closed in 2011 and purchased for redevelopment. The cross was acquired in 2020 by Mary Raine, who donated it to St Andrew’s, her local church. It has been restored and installed above the south door.
The Church of St Andrew is a Grade II* example of a fine Victorian church building. It originally stood in central London, where it was opened in 1847. After its closure it was dismantled and rebuilt in Kingsbury, reopening in 1934.
In the Anglican Church, 14 September is significant as Holy Cross Day, also known as the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by St Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, and the dedication of the churches built on the sites of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary in Jerusalem.
Scene & Word is very grateful to Mary Raine for rescuing the cross from an uncertain fate in Llanelli, to Fr Jason Rendell (a Welshman from Newport) for enthusiastically championing the installation of the cross in his church, to Bishop Norman for blessing the cross, and to the authorities of the Diocese of London for authorising the installation.
Peter Jones speaking at the rededication ceremony.
From left: Mary Raine, Peter Jones, Maggie Smales, Will Jones, Bishop Norman Banks.