Striking angel wings sculpture to feature at Cradley church

Black Country artist Luke Perry was commissioned by St Peter's Church, Cradley, to craft the sculpture, which is made out of metal.

It stands two-and-a-half-feet high and features two seats, and will be unveiled at a ceremony next month.

The sculpture is part of rejuvenation work being carried out by church leaders to help make its grounds more appealing.

Mr Perry said: "It is quite a dramatic new sculpture and will be uplifting.

"It is also a memorial piece and will feature next to the church's cenotaph.

"I made it to look like real wings. It is based on British predator birds, like the kestrel. Some angel wings you see don't look realistic but these do.

"The designs conform with the anatomy of the wings, which is important to me.

"The organisers at the church are doing a lot of work rejuvenating the area. There is a lot of planting going on with the memorial gardens.

"As part of that, they got in touch with me about the sculpture."

The sculpture has taken Luke around a month to craft.

It involved beating sheets of metal together before welding them. The steel was sourced from Netherton, galvanised in the Black Country and the sculpture itself was then made half a mile away in Cradley Heath.

Luke said the wings will create a photo opportunity for visitors to the church, as the wings will come to shoulder height for people sitting in front of it.

The church's vicar, Rev Katryn Leclezio, said: "I am thrilled with what I had seen so far.

"We wanted a sculpture that reflected the historic industry of the area and Cradley, such as the metal working. We are hoping it will also be a focal point for wedding photos, too."

Part of the revamp work will see the church garden be transformed into a wildlife haven.

The sculpture has cost around £2,500, and a lot of the funds have came from a worshipper who left money to the church in his will.