Saint Joseph Statue

Sculptor:
Philip Chatfield

Client:
Pluscarden Abbey

Completion Date:
2025

Portland Stone:
Jordans Basebed

Scope of Project:
Statue of Saint Joseph for new build St Josephs Women's Guest House.

Pluscarden Abbey in North-East Scotland, was founded in 1230, home to a community of Catholic Benedictine monks. The Abbey is the only medieval British monastery still being used for it’s original purpose.
Renowned architectural Stone Carver and Sculptor, Philip Chatfield has been using Portland stone for over 45 Years creating hundreds of pieces of work. Philip spent nearly a year and half at the Abbey helping with their projects and bringing Saint Joseph to life.
The design of the statue was a ‘working Joseph’ with a bible and a set square in his left hand and a Lilly in his right, a symbol of purity and a woven basket at his feet with a hammer a chisel.
Philip started work on the sawn six side block measuring 1530mm x 485mm x 360mm in Autumn 2024. Taking around 4.5 months to complete, sculpting through the harsh Scottish winter with limited daylight in a make shift workshop.
Once the statue was set in place on it’s plinth, the night before the official opening, Philip quietly finished off Josephs eyes and finer facial expressions.
Taking nearly 12 years to complete, the new guest house was warmly welcomed in the community on 19th March 2025, at the official opening on the Feast day of Saint Joseph, the Saint of protection. Fr Joseph blessed the near life size statue of Saint Joseph, who welcomes guests as they enter the main entrance.
The charming statue has been well received with many residents enjoying being able to observe the creative process, as Joseph evolved from the block of Portland into this life size figure.