St Cuthman Statue
Penny Reeve delivered a fascinating talk on creating the St Cuthman statue during our open garden day at Rosebank on 16th August 2026. Following the event, we invited Penny to share her story so we could preserve it here, and she kindly allowed us to scan her wonderful photographs documenting the project.
To bring her journey to life, we have formatted her account as an engaging Q&A.
How did the commission for the statue come about?
In 1998 George Cockman (Chairman of Steyning 2000) asked me if I would make a sculpture of St Cuthman to celebrate the Millennium.
How did you feel when you received the commission?
I was very excited, thrilled and honoured to be asked!
What type of stone is the Cuthman statue made from and where did it originate?
We agreed that stone would be best for an outside public statue.
The stone would be Portland stone, base bed, from Albion Quarries Ltd. in Dorset, near where I had trained. This stone is white, hard, but fine-grained.
Please tell us how you worked to create the statue. What tools did you use and did you have a model?
Having thought of the pose, I asked Adam Camilleri to sit for drawings – and it was he who chose to move the position of the left hand – which gave the pose strength and dynamic energy. In February 1999 I submitted the drawings and estimated costings to George and Charles Ashby (Steyning Parochial Church Council), which were accepted.
How long did it take to create?
The work began at the end of July 2000 when the stone (10 tons!) was delivered to my then home Greenfields Farmhouse. John Camilleri tried valiantly to help “roughing out” – burying a few big ‘bits’! But then Chris Cherrill (from Chris Marshall Ltd.) was able to remove stone from around the head with a diamond cutter.
My work now began! I used an electric hammer chisel and hand tools later. It took me until the Winter of 2000, about 4 months, but couldn’t be finished until Spring 2001 because of Foot and Mouth disease restrictions on transport.
How was the statue brought to Steyning and what challenges did you face?
When these were lifted, the sculpture (in its two parts) was expertly and very carefully loaded onto the Albion Quarries’ huge lorry again, and brought to its prepared site opposite the church in Steyning, and lowered gently into position. Great relief all round!
We understand that you completed the actual work on the statue with it in-situ. Please tell us about that.
I could then complete the work, which was protected by a cage, with lots of people coming to watch!
Was there anything unusual about the way you created Cuthman, compared to other sculptures you’ve created?
There was nothing unusual about making Cuthman, just different – not modelling in clay or using a foundry, but carving to release the figure from the block of stone – first hard, then very gently, sensing when close – a strange instinct! Also it was a lot bigger, and harder physical work !
How was the Cuthman statue unveiled and in what setting? Was there an official ceremony?
By July 2001 it was on view for all once finished, we did have a party to celebrate – this included Christopher Fry who wrote “The Boy with the Cart” . Very special.
St Cuthman was officially unveiled in April 2002, celebrating Steyning 2000’s 3 projects – the Sundial , the Church Steps , and the Statue of St Cuthman!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I felt very happy and honoured to have been able to make something special for my town! May St Cuthman last for many many years to come!
Thank you Penny!