With a little help from NSCC, Stellarton's Christ Church has new cross

STELLARTON, N.S. – Parishioners at Christ Anglican Church in Stellarton are hoping a new cross installed on the church steeple during Holy Week will welcome and draw people to the church.
In prayers dedicating the cross on Easter Sunday, worshippers said: “May the outstretched bar be a sign of God’s welcome to all. May the simplicity of the cross be a sign of the power of simple faith. May the height of the cross be a symbol of our worship reaching to the heavens. And may this cross serve to draw all people to God, demonstrating God’s presence in our community today and in the years to come.”
The new cross was installed on the Thursday of Holy Week, a replacement for the cross that was taken down in September 2017 because of concerns that it would fall from the steeple.
During an inspection of the roof performed by a drone, it was discovered the base holding the old cross was broken. Church property committee member Ron Dunn said steps were taken to quickly remove the old cross once the discovery was made.
Dunn said once it was taken down, the property committee realized the cross itself was also in a state of disrepair. That cross was erected in the 1950s and was made from a steel frame clad with copper, which was falling off and was badly tarnished.
So the committee decided to have a new cross made, but the process took longer than anticipated because research had to be conducted into what types of materials to use, and an initial design turned out to be too expensive.
After a suggestion from a parishioner, the Nova Scotia Community College’s Pictou campus – which is located in Stellarton – was contacted, and its trades shop constructed the new cross.
Made from aluminum in the same style as the old cross, it was installed with help from A.W. Leil Cranes and S.W. Weeks Construction.
“This is an historical moment for Christ Church, and it was an honour to watch the stages of installation,” said Rev. Darlene Jewers, the church rector. “And then to dedicate the new steeple cross on Easter Sunday was the ‘elevating highlight’ of the process.”
 After the dedication and prayers, parishioners sang “Lift High the Cross” as the recessional hymn.