An electrician gains internal access to the cross on the St John’s Lutheran Church steeple to unhook the power to the lighting. Photos: LYLE RADFORD
Nicholas Street was blocked on Friday morning while the cross was removed.
The glass and aluminium cross is slowly lowered onto the flatbed of a truck.
FRIDAY was a ‘good news day’ for the congregation of St John’s Lutheran Church in Ipswich.
The rain ceased just as everything was ready to start on the removal of the cross on top of the steeple.
The complex removal operation went smoothly and it was found that the damage caused by water seeping in through the broken glass panels had caused considerable surface damage to the steel tower structure.
“It all went better than we had hoped,” said Church Council Chairman, Ron Schultz.
“We’re very happy with how the builder, Brian Proctor, organised everything. It all came together just as it should.”
The cross was taken to Speedy Glass where the glass was removed in preparation for it to be then taken for sandblasting and painting. After this, it will have coats of two-pack applied and new heavy duty, wind rated glass panes fitted.
“The interior lighting will be upgraded to LED,” Mr Schultz said.
That upgrade will mean the person who climbs up through the interior of the steeple to change the bulbs in the cross, won’t have to make the trek so often.
“The most water damage was found to be where the cross is bolted rather than inside the steeple,” he said.
It is anticipated that the refurbished cross will be back in place in around four weeks.
