Community restores church’s crowning glory

02 Oct 2007

The combined efforts of three local businesses have resulted in a Margam church seeing its former crowning glory restored.

The original cross at St David's Church had withstood almost 50 years of weathering before it was decided it needed to be taken down for safety reasons.

After an approach from congregation member and Corus energy team member Dave Bowyer, the company’s Central Engineering department fashioned a replacement out of hardwood.

“Craig Bridgeman and Dean Cockings in the carpenters’ shop made a fantastic cross and then stained it,” said Dave Bowyer.  “Then we had problems getting it up because it’s around 16ft tall.”

It was initially planned to use a Corus crane, but the structure was eventually hoisted into place by Port Talbot company R&E Plant Hire with the help of Rugbi Safety, Llandarcy, and has been blessed by the Vicar of St David’s, Father Terry Doherty.

St David’s Church Warden Bob Jennings said: “The original cross was found to be unsafe – parts of it were falling off.  The new one is very impressive.  Although it’s made of wood, in a certain light, it looks silver.

“It would have been a very expensive cost for the church to bear if we’d had to pay for it, so we give grateful thanks to Corus and the other business involved.”

Corus Community Spokesman Keith Farron described the cross as ‘a not insubstantial piece of carpentry’.

He added: “Jobs that we carry out for local organisations usually involve our contractors, but the companies involved in the operation are not connected with Corus at all.  It was a real community effort.”