A Cross to Bear

The newest southern cross looks down at Chattanooga from 110 feet in the sky and church members feel it will change the city. The church modeled their giant cross after the one in Loudon, Tennessee but some neighbors aren't excited about it as church members. It was built on Graceworks Church property, right in front of their new church building, just off Lee Highway and Highway 153.

Early this morning cranes, manned by dozens of workers, begin the daunting task of taking up the cross for a local church.

John Noll is one of many members watching as the 28 ton metal symbol is raised high above. "This is Graceworks Church, this is the church at the foot of the cross, and all people are welcome to come and be with us."

Fellow member Marisa Moyers said, "We're really excited, we think it's a message to Chattanooga and hopefully it will give people of Chattanooga hope if they're down and out."

The cross received a warm welcome of applause when it finally fit into its new, high home. The cross now stands 110 feet tall, and church members say it's not just a towering symbol for them, but for anyone driving through Chattanooga. But we spoke with several of those folks who have much different perspectives on the cross.

Thomas Lanphere says, "I just see it as another, like another telephone pole, electric pole because you have to have that experience and if you don't it's not going to mean that much to most people."

But while some people don't want to see the cross, othersm like Theresa Singer-Cronnon do. She said, "That cross to me represents a way of touching people because you don't know what they're experiencing as they drive through in their car and what the cross might give them, encouragement."

After it was raised up, Noll just stared... and said, "It looks so great up there, to me it's a symbol of God's strength."

Even after dark, the cross will still be seen, since it will have lights shining onto the cross and out of the cross. You can see this structure as far away as Interstate 75, so it's certainly a big change to the scenic city skyline. The cross took a year to build and get put up. It also had to get F.A.A. approval.