Pauline Miller discusses the significance of a crucifix that hangs in St. Mary's Church in the Lace Market. The carving was sculptured by Newark artist Peter Ball. Pauline explains a little more about the piece. Description Jesus is crucified but he's not actually on his cross. He's up there and he's looking down on us in an extremely loving way, and he's got his arms spread out with the nail holes in his hands. In actual fact if you look at it he's also got his arms spread out in love. It's as if he's embracing us all. I think it's rather beautiful. It's made out of wood and it is painted and guilded, and it looks quite antique, but to my knowledge it's less than 20 years old. I find that inspirational because as you look around this ancient church you can see things that date back to the 14th Century but this is proof of the fact that the church is still alive and so is the faith. Inspiration I was ill three years ago and I had to go through some extensive and frightening treatment.
 | | Crucifix by Peter Ball, St. Mary's |
At the time I was doing a study of Cologne Cathedral, but because of the treatment I couldn't travel. As soon as I was well enough, my husband and I went to Cologne Cathedral and looked at the art there. The piece of art I had been visualising was the one one with God the Father on his throne, with Jesus crucified at his knee, and the dove of the holy spirit above his head... the symbol of the trinity. We are looking at [the crucifix] above the crib scene, the symbol of Jesus the baby, but above his head is the symbol of what Jesus' fate was going to be... that he was going to die for us all, that we may not feel guilty and humiliated about our sins, but know that they've been forgiven. A non-religious person who appreciated art would look at it and find it beautiful, it is really quite a decorative artifact.
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