Earlier this month a team of steeplejacks installed a newly gilded golden weathervane on the top of Chichester Cathedral’s 277ft Spire. What made this event special is the pioneering use of Fairtrade and Fairmined gold - a first time ever display on a public building.
The gilded Cathedral weathervane – a 3ft cockerel - was placed above the spire by a team of steeplejacks. They climbed 131ft – 205 steps - to reach the base of the Spire, followed by an ascent of a narrow 146ft ladder directly up the side of the Spire. A tiny scaffold platform was erected around the Spire Cap specifically for the project.
The gold was responsibly sourced by Chichester’s Cred jewellers from the Sotrami Mine in Peru - one of the first mines in the world to be certified to Fairtrade standards. Both the Sotrami Mine and Cred are part of a new – and revolutionary – programme of Fairtrade and Fairmined Certified Gold. It represents the world's first independent ethical certification system for gold signifying a product that was responsibly mined by miners who received a fair price.
The weathervane was removed from the Spire for refurbishment early in 2011, as part of a five yearly survey of the Spire. The steeplejacks also completed maintenance work on the Spire stonework.
Cred jewellers were pivotal to the realisation of Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold and are one of the first ethical jewellers in the UK to produce collections sourced in this way.
Prior to gilding the weathervane, the 24 carat gold was sent to Italy to be turned into gold leaf just 8 microns thick by Manetti, one of Florence's oldest companies. They are Europe only remaining organisation able to turn gold into gold leaf.
As well as this latest addition, Chichester Cathedral blends medieval features alongside a famous collection of modern artworks, including works by Marc Chagall, John Piper, and Graham Sutherland. Chichester Cathedral is open every day and all year with free entry.
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