John Skelton (sculptor)

St Augustine's Church, Bexhill-on-Sea

John Skelton MBE (1923–1999) was the nephew of Eric Gill and was also noted as an important letterer and sculptor^[1] after initially being apprenticed to his uncle shortly before Eric Gill's death. He continued his training under Joseph Cribb.

His public work includes the headstone to Edward James at West Dean, a sculpture of St Augustine above the church of that dedication in Bexhill-on-Sea,^[2] and the font at Chichester Cathedral (1983). Norwich Cathedral (Our Lady of Pity Sculpture, 1967-8), Salisbury Cathedral (inscriptions) and Winchester Cathedral (inscriptions and side altar) show other examples.

A memorial to the generals of World War II is in St Paul's Cathedral Crypt, London. The tablet commemorating a member of the ship's company of the Mary Rose exists in Portsmouth Cathedral.

Worthing Museum and Art Gallery acquired The Diver (1970), a carving in walnut wood, in 2008.^[3] This was made possible through the V&A Purchase Fund and the Friends of the Worthing Museum.

References

1. http://www.johnskelton.org.uk
2. Elleray, D. Robert (2004). Sussex Places of Worship. Worthing: Optimus Books. p. 3. ISBN 0-9533132-7-1.
3. http://www.worthing.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/newsarchive2008/march/title,45381,en.html