Christ Rests at Guildford Cathedral

A FIVE foot high sculpture of the head of Christ crucified has become a talking point for visitors to Guildford Cathedral.

Christ Rests is a bronze work by sculptor Nic Fiddian-Green who created the 33ft horse's head at Marble Arch.

Nic has worked on the subject of the Passion of Christ since the early 1980s when he undertook the creation of the Crucifixion and Veil of Veronica as part of the Stations of the Cross at the Wintershall estate in Surrey.  

He has revisited this subject many times, and continues his search for the face of Christ in his work.

He said: "'I have been working on the subject of the face of Christ for over 20 years 'with no place in mind', so when I was invited to install a work at Guildford, I realised it was all out of my hands. 

"It is a great privilege and opportunity to reveal this work in a sacred and spiritual place."

The Revd Canon Andrew Bishop said: "Anyone who sees Nic Fiddian-Green's sculpture Christ Rests, now in Guildford Cathedral cannot help but be moved and challenged - moved by the impact of his extraordinary artistic expression and challenged by the face of Jesus, who for Christians is the Son of God, but also as a human being shares the pains of the world. 

"It is a striking and meditative piece for the holy season of Lent." 

Christ Rests is on display in the cathedral's nave from February 12 to March 30.