A sculpture of Christ has been removed from a church following concerns that it was scaring young children, a vicar said today.
The Rev Ewen Souter said the 10ft-high resin figure also failed to convey the message of hope of the resurrection of Christ.
The sculpture was installed in St John's Church in Broadbridge Heath, West Sussex, in the Sixties after being designed by former Royal Society of British Sculptors president Edward Bainbridge Copnall.
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It was removed from the side of the church just before Christmas and delivered to Horsham Museum, where it will be mounted on a large wall in its grounds.
In the meantime, artist Angela Godfrey has been commissioned to design a new cross for the church expressing the joy of the Christian faith.
Mr Souter, who has been vicar at St John's since 2001, said: 'It was felt that the crucifix was unsettling for young children, that it was off-putting to people outside the church and conveyed nothing of the hope of the resurrection of Christ.
'As part of a local community survey done by my predecessor, all the comments about the cross were negative and we wanted something that communicated the hope and joy of the Christian faith.'
A museum spokesman told the West Sussex County Times: 'Thanks to the generosity of St John's, the remarkable sculpture of Jesus on the cross by Edward Bainbridge Copnall has in effect been given to Horsham Museum.
'The museum was keen to have the figure because it is not only a stunning example of Edward's ability and skill as a sculptor, but also being made out of coal dust and resin it represents the cutting edge of materials as well as being a dramatic interpretation of a well known image.'
