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Crucifix sale to help save church
PARISHONERS at a church in a tiny Wolds village are hoping that the auction of a rare early 15th century crucifix will help save their church.
For more than 60 years St Mary's Church, Thixendale, has been without a permanent heating system and the congregation have had to rely on small gas heaters during icy winters.
But the temporary heaters have begun to damage the fabric of the historic church, commissioned by Sir Tatton Sykes in the 19th century.
Now, the parishioners have launched a fund raising drive in a bid to raise more than 16,000 for a new heating system and other repairs.
And their main hope of unlocking vital funds will come from the auction of the ornate cross, believed to be worth up to 6,000, at Christie's auction house in London.
Church warden, Pauline Foster, who is also the church fundraising co-ordinator, said: "About a year ago a visitor to the church pointed out that one of the two crosses was very old and was, potentially, quite valuable, so we began to investigate."
After a visit to the East Riding archives in Beverley, Mrs Foster discovered that the diaries of the first vicar of St Mary's, the Rev William Fox.
Among the excerpts from his diaries was a mention that he had presented the antique crucifix in about 1870, to commemorate his three decades service as village vicar.
Following her detective work, Mrs Foster discovered that the processional crucifix dated back to the early 15th century.
It is made of latten - a kind of hammered sheet brass - and carries the symbol of St John the evangelist on each of the cross's points. The figure of Christ in the centre of the crucifix was originally coated in enamel, some of which still remains.
It is mounted on a plinth made of red and white marble.
Mrs Foster said she had been told that there was a similar crucifix in the British Museum but that the Thixendale cross was in better condition.
Mrs Foster said: "The outcome was that it is quite valuable and, because St Mary's is an open church, we had to put it into safe keeping as we couldn't afford the insurance.
"We appealed to the diocese to let us sell it because of our financial need but because of the antiquity of the cross, they had to refer it to the Council for the Care of Churches and their recommendation was that it should not be sold."
However, the parochial church council appealed successfully against the recommendation.
The cross is now safely in the vaults of Christie's offices in Harrogate. It will be taken to London for the auction in November.
Mrs Foster said: "It is supposed to be worth between 4,000 and 6,000, which is not a tremendous amount of money but it is for us. If we get the reserve price of 5,000, that will enable us to get other grants."
A spokeswoman for Christie's said that the crucifix would be transported to London in the next few weeks and may be part of a specialist ecclesiastical auction.
Villagers in Thixendale are also holding a host of other events in a bid to meet their fundraising target.
There will be stalls selling crafts and books on the village main street and a bouncy castle for children on July 16 between 11am and 4pm. There will also be an open garden event on the same day.
For further information, contact Pauline Foster, tel (01377) 288294.
PICTURE: Parishioners Sarah Frettingham, Pauline Foster, Jenny Heron, Alfie Bell-Jones, three, Sebastian Allen, two, Marjorie Jefferson and Lynne Boyes.
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Weather for Driffield
Thursday 17 May 2012
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