Another step towards installing the two new statues for Cirencester Parish Church took a step forward on Tuesday November 3rd.
Rodney Munday, the sculptor and Antony Feltham King, the church architect went up in a cherry picker to measure the niches in preparation for Rodney commencing work on St John the Baptist. The dimensions have to be carefully measured so that the proportions of the statues in the niches both fit neatly, but also so that the statues look right when viewed from ground level.
Rodney Munday said, “It was reassuring for me to see the niches in person for the first time. We have been working on measurements, but this final measurement has allowed me to make small changes to the design. On a personal level it was a great challenge for me, as I am afraid of heights”.
Antony Feltham King from St Anns Architects, Salisbury said that it had allowed him to confirm his decisions about what should happen with the restoration of the niches and enabled him to begin thinking about the restoration process, which he will be managing.
The sight of the cherry picker in the Market Place drew a continuous stream of onlookers, all interested in the prospect of the new statues. For a few people, including John Tiffney, who is now Chair of the Project group and Nigel Robbins, the new church warden it allowed them a “joyride” up to see the niches and be able to see just what St John will see when he looks down on the town.
