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Happening ... in the Local Church
 (Photos
provided) |
 A
crane that extended to 200 feet was brought in to install the cross. |
 The
new cross, covered in gold leaf, shines brightly. |
By Caroline B. Mooney
The
Catholic Moment
REMINGTON — After more than 100 years, a new cross sits atop Sacred Heart Church.
The original cross was installed in 1901 when the church was built. It was so damaged in a hailstorm on Good Friday, 2006, that it was less expensive to re-create a new cross than to fix the original. The cross sits on an orb that also was replaced.
“I was on pins and needles watching,” parishioner Dottie Goodwin said. She and her husband, Art, took photographs of the removal of the old cross and installation of the new one from their home across the street. Installation began on March 24 and was finished on March 26.
“I had a good view from my bedroom window,” Dottie said. “It was quite interesting to see the base lifted up, then they tried to fit the orb on. It was crooked at first, but finally it was all bolted down.
“The old cross really didn’t look bad while it was still up,” she said. “But once they brought it down, you could see that it was dinged and the seams were opening up.”
“I never took pictures before in my life,” Art said, “but I was interested when they put up the new cross and snapped a lot of photos.”
The church, hall and rectory were all re-roofed and new copper gutters installed, said Father Thomas Fox, pastor. Work is under way on the steeple to replace slate that also was damaged.
A crane that extended to 200 feet had to be brought in to install the cross.
“The orb that the cross sits on weighs about 45 to 50 pounds,” Father Fox said. “Both it and the cross are hollow, and had to be lifted up and slipped onto a wooden beam that is mounted in the tower. The beam running through the middle keeps the cross from blowing in the wind.”
The old cross eventually will be made into a monument on the church grounds.
Blackmore & Buckner Roofing Co. Inc. from Indianapolis made and installed the new cross.
It is made of copper and the orb is stainless steel. Both were covered with varnish and then gilded with heavy-duty gold leaf, said Howard Hass, project manager from Conrad Schmitt Studios, New Berlin, Wis.
“The gold leaf should not be touched by human hands — skin oils will cause oxidation,” Hass said. “Depending upon weather conditions, it should look good for the next 20 to 30 years; possibly as long as 40 to 50 years.”
Insurance has covered about $250,000 for the reconstruction and restoration work, and the parish paid another $16,000 to cover damage attributed to wear and tear over the years.
Recent flooding also damaged the church basement and house. CCD classrooms were temporarily moved to the parish hall. New drywall has been put up in the basement and cleaning crews are working on all the furniture.