The Iona Church has been closed to the public for repair work, and is scheduled to reopen in February following an extensive three-stage restoration project which included installing new stained-glass windows, structural and earthquake strengthening, clock and stonework repairs and relocation of the in-house organ.
Historic Iona Church Restoration Trust treasurer Liz McLennan said the original cross was "blown off" the church in September last year, which caused damage to the stonework of the building and roof as it "bounced down", destroying the feature.
She said the installation had been on hold for months due to the challenge of getting the heavy stonework on to the roof, but was not covered as part of the restoration process.
"The helicopter seemed to be the only option," she said.
The new Oamaru stone celtic cross which has been installed on the northern end of the church was made by BCITO second-year student Josiah Stephenson who was working as part of a team with Wainwright and Co. Stonemasons.
Wainright and Co. Stonemasons director Marcus Wainwright was waiting atop the spire for it to be delivered yesterday.
Ms McLennan said Mr Wainwright’s team were "real craftsmen" and the replacement was almost identical to the original 1883 cross, as the team had been able to replicate the design from the broken pieces of the original which were salvaged after the storm.
She was pleased the cross had finally been installed in its home despite high winds yesterday morning.
"It was suspenseful waiting to see whether they would be game enough to fly it because it was so windy," she said.
She said it seemed to be a quick job to install the piece despite the weather.
"It was not even two minutes from the time they arrived above it, attached it on and lifted it up and flew off."
