Number One God
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Number One God
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
I thought it was interesting how a little different angle on this iconic church steeple changed the meaning slightly while still providing the very important message, that God is and should remain number one.
“The Hand Pointing to Heaven” sits atop the steeple of the First Presbyterian Church in Port Gibson, Mississippi. Most recently restored in 2017, it was first placed upon this Romanesque Revival Church in 1860.
The distance from the sidewalk to the tip of the finger measures 147 feet. The hand is ten feet, four inches tall and the index finger is four feet long. Fabricated from 24 gauge sheet iron, the hand weighs 200 pounds, and is covered by the finest German gold leaf which is but .0003 of an inch thick – ten times thinner than a sheet of paper. What looks like hairy knuckles, is wire mesh to deter birds from nesting on the hand.
It is said that the church’s first minister, Dr. Zebulon Butler, often made this hand gesture during his sermons. Instead of a cross, the congregation decided to use his gesture atop their steeple.
This unique icon has since become the symbol of Port Gibson.
Copyright 2019 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
March 27th, 2019
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