A cross that has been missing from the west end of historic All Saints Church in South Hobart for 130 years is to be replaced on Monday 11 November at 8.30am.
The final step in the restoration of the west wall by stonemason Duncan Foster will be to replace this cross.
Mr Foster will be lifted up by crane with the new cross after it is blessed .
All Saints Church, designed by Henry Hunter, built between 1859 and 1861, has only one of the four original crosses remaining.
Father David O’Neill, Rector of the Parish of All Saints, said, “As we looked through the earliest photos of the church we saw that, by the 1880’s crosses had disappeared.
It is an important part of our restoration programme that they be replaced.”
Father David also paid tribute to the South Hobart Progress Association for their interest in the restoration programme and their financial support which has made the replacement of the crosses possible.
Much of All Saints Church was built with stone unable to withstand the strong winds off Mt Wellington.
Over the years the winds have not only damaged all west-facing walls of the church and caused three crosses to disintegrate but have also caused severe damage to the roof.
As the church has been emptied of pews to accommodate the work on the roof, the congregation of All Saints is currently worshipping at The Hutchins School Chapel.
Fr David O’Neill, Rector, All Saints Church, South Hobart
