CREATIVE villagers designed a mosaic cross that will stand in their churchyard after it was unveiled on Palm Sunday.

The Celtic-style mosaic cross outside St Mary’s Church, Brighstone, has been created using a wooden structure and coloured glass.

A group of 20 or so residents worked on it inside the church for three months as part of a community art project.

It was unveiled and dedicated by the Rev. Jackie Maw, West Wight team rector, at an event on Sunday, attended by more than 50 people.

The Rev Maw, who is a trained classical singer, sang When I Survey the Wondrous Cross and prayed a prayer of dedication.

Everyone enjoyed hot cross buns.

Worshipper Ali Mascarenhas has led the Brighstone mosaic group that has been working on the project since January.

The cross will stand in the busy churchyard for several weeks before being installed in the church’s side chapel.

She said: “The churchyard at Brighstone is a thoroughfare for people walking through the village and we wanted people to have something to interact with.

"Various different parts of the cross tell different stories, so there is plenty to engage with.

“We wanted it to be ready by Palm Sunday, so people could see it during Holy Week.

"We’ll encourage people to take a stone and place it at the foot of the cross, as a symbol of their prayers.”

The cross is set in a circle, as a reminder of God’s endless love.

At the centre of the cross is a dove, which symbolises peace and the Holy Spirit. 

At the bottom of the cross are downs with sheep, reminding people of the Biblical references to Jesus as a shepherd and his followers as sheep.

The ring around the cross depicts the sea and sky, recalling the importance of God as Creator.

There are four segments with other stories.

The Celtic mosaic cross complements the Olive Garden and Tree of Life mosaic that are already in the St Mary’s churchyard.

They were dedicated to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last year.