ALMOST half a century ago, the celebrated Liverpool sculptor Arthur Dooley caused an almighty commotion when his statue of Jesus was revealed.

There were some who thought he - Dooley that is - should be crucified for his depiction of Christ. The church minister who commissioned Dooley's work even received death threats.

It was 1969 and hundreds of people had made their way to Princes Avenue to witness the grand unveiling of the Lord on a new church. But when the wraps came off the 11-foot Jesus, cast in black and of indeterminate mixed race, it was simply too much for many to take. Dooley later described the shocked reaction by the faithful as akin to a two minutes silence. 

Head up to Princes Park Methodist Church at noon this Sunday and see if there is a repeat of those events of 46 years ago.

Dooley depicted a Christ for all people, wherever they were from and whatever their skin colour. It is so clever, and yes, slap bang in the heart of Liverpool 8. The place that is the world in one postcode

Dooley’s Black Christ has risen again, after a much needed spruce up and repair. It will be unveiled this weekend, having spent 46 years pinned to the church wall, facing the elements of Liverpool 8.

It all started when Methodist minister Rev Donald May wanted some nice lettering for his new £52,000 church in an area the press dubbed "Little Harlem".

Dooley, it seemed didn't do lettering and offered, instead, to create a statue of Christ. Rev May agreed, put his faith in the Catholic convert and let him get on with it. There were no drawings, no mock-ups. Instead of new lettering spelling out the name of the church, they got an 11ft tall statue, and it sent shock waves across the city.

The Sunday Mirror described Dooley's Christ as a blood splattered figure "slap bang in Liverpool's coloured quarter. It shows Christ at the resurrection looking a bit like a West Indian and a bit like a Red Indian."

Dooley, 40 at the time, was in his element. He told the newspaper: "Reactions have been bloody marvellous. A lot hate it, some like it, but they are all looking."

The statue cost £3,000 to make but, true to his word, Dooley only charged the £200 the church had set aside for its lettering.

 

 

Rev May was philosophical about the response. "I am sure it will fulfil its purpose. It will shock some, it will horrify others. To many it will be a word from God through an artist of our age."

Tommy Calderbank was the man responsible for the brush and scrub up for the statue. He got Dooley's one time apprentice, the famed sculptor Stephen Broadbent, to act as adviser to the careful restoration.

Calderbank said: "Living in the area I passed the church hundreds of times and realised the statue was looking the worse for wear. We talked about it and decided it should be taken down and restored.

"We took it to the Castle Fine Arts Foundry, in the Baltic Quarter, and let the owner, Chris Butler, do his stuff. Chris and his team gave done a brilliant job, and the Black Christ will be good for another 50 years.


"It is a fabulous piece of work by Arthur Dooley, a real masterpiece. Without using one word it tells a powerful story of hope, and Dooley depicted a Christ for all people, wherever they were from and whatever their skin colour.

"It is so clever and, yes, slap bang in the heart of Liverpool 8. The place that is the world in one postcode is the perfect home for our Black Christ.”

Chris Butler said: "The statue was in a poor condition after being on an outside wall for so long. I don't think it could have lasted much longer without some major repair work. Now it will last for years. It is a powerful piece of sculpture work by Dooley.”

The refurb work was done in the same room where a new statue of Beatle John Lennon is being created. It was Lennon who once said the Beatles were more important than Jesus.

Anyone can attend Sunday's unveiling and re-dedication of the statue. Also being unveiled is a plaque, commemorating Dooley's work, by craftsman Fred O'Brien.

Urban activist Calderbank has created a booklet telling the story of the Black Christ from its inception to its restoration. 

It features news clippings from the time and a collection of new photographs from street artist Isabel O'Rourke. Copies can be bought on the day for £2.50.