Futuna's Jesus sculpture returned

Jesus finally returned home from the dead today, briefly stopping in Karori under a heavy police escort.

The historic mahogany statue of Christ, hand-forged by sculptor Jim Allen, went missing from Karori’s Futuna Chapel in 1999 or 2000 around the time the chapel was sold by its former owners, the Society of Mary, to housing developers.

The statue was recovered from an empty rural property in Ahititi, Taranaki in late August and was today welcomed back to its original home.

The statue was formally recognised with hymns and holy water before police escorted it to Te Papa where a conservation assessment and any restorative work that may be required will take place.

The sculpture is expected to be permanently reinstated at the chapel in March.
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Dominion Post 6/9/12