Jesus has 'risen' in Sussex - and he's wearing baggy jeans!

London, May 14 (ANI): It's 21st century after all so why Jesus Christ should be left behind. A church in East Sussex has unveiled a new seven foot high statue of a modern day Jesus wearing jeans and a shirt.

Father David Buckley unveiled the 35,000-pound Marcus Cornish statue dubbed "Jesus in jeans" at the Our Lady Immaculate and St Philip Neri Catholic church in Uckfield depicting Christ as a man of the 21st century.

In the statue Christ can be seen wearing jeans and a shirt billowing in the wind while his hair and beard are neatly and fashionably trimmed.Cornish's sculpture was funded by money left by Winifred Gregory, 87, a member of the congregation who passed away last year, reports The Telegraph.Father Buckley said: "You are always looking for new ways to enrich people in the experience of Christianity and it is good people can be open-minded to appreciate it.

"On the continent you often encounter modern representations of Jesus but it is not so common over here. We wanted a figure of Christ not in suffering but dynamic and welcoming.

"We felt this design summed up the spirit and activity of Christ perfectly and I think it speaks for itself."

Cornish said: "The sculpture is simple and direct and I hope it sums up the feeling that Christ is always with us and that we are not to be afraid.

"His clothing is being blown vigorously to add the sense of him being alive and his strength in defying earthly cares.

"The clothing is loosely contemporary in order to connect Christ to his people now as much as to his past. I hope this sculpture will inspire and communicate in very human terms, reaching out and being relevant to both the congregation and local community." (ANI)