A new sculpture of Christ and St Peter is a first for Wales

A major new work by sculptor, Nicholas Mynheer, was blessed by the Bishop of Monmouth, Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS, at a service in St Peter’s church, Goetre, near Abergavenny in South Wales, on Sunday 10th June.

It is the first work that this artist, who trained as a painter but now works mostly in stone or glass, has done in Wales and was commissioned by the Ven Peter Woodman (former Archdeacon of Monmouth) and his wife, Glenis in thanksgiving for their marriage and his ordination both of which took place in 1960.

Talking about the commission, Ven Peter Woodman said, “We wanted the work to be both scriptural and contemporary which is why we gave the commission to Nicholas. We suggested the subject and then gave him a free hand and we are thrilled with the result.”

Carved in fine-grained Ancaster stone, the sculpture hangs high on the chancel arch of St Peter’s church which was largely rebuilt in 1845-6 by Wyatt &  Brandon. It depicts St Peter on the left, standing in water, holding a bowl of fish. He looks upward to Christ in the centre. Christ asks Peter, “Who do you say that I am?”

Peter answers, “You are the Christ”. But Peter’s raised arm, presenting Christ to us, also reminds us of that moment of doubt when, trying to to walk on water, Peter starts to sink and reaches up to Christ and says, “Lord, save me.”

Christ takes Peter the Fisherman and presents to him his new commission – to be a Fisher of Men. So, top right, we see Christ’s hand presenting a group of people standing on a rock. This is us, the Church. The Rock on which those people stand is symbolic of Peter himself on whom the church is built.

Beneath is a crowing cock, a symbol of Peter’s betrayal of Jesus. ‘Before the cock crows today you will disown me three times’. And yet, perhaps more importantly, it is also a symbol of the resurrection.

Christ looks down at us, his face bathed in light. That same love and faith that Christ had in Peter, he has in us.

Speaking at the service, Nicholas Mynheer said, “It is a privilege for an artist to have a work in a public space and I feel it a great privilege to have a work in a place of worship. I hope and trust that it glorifies God and serves to remind us that whilst we too can sometimes deny Christ, disown him, and feel ourselves sinking, we can call, “Lord, save me!” and he will reach out his hand to us.

Blessing the sculpture, the Bishop said, “One of the more pleasurable jobs a bishop is asked to do is bless a new work of art. Artists reveal what is there and this sculpture opens windows into heaven for us.”

END 11 June 2007