Sculpture of Christ for St Christopher's Walworth. The greatest sense coming our of my series of commissions has not just been the sculpture itself, but the way that the whole process creates a focus or rallying point for galvanising the church community to action, pro or anti. There is nothing more controversial than putting something new into such a community. I think for the sculpture to be involved in negotiation and participation, in a sense of the particular church, is vital especially since churches are so diverse in character and the response to a sculpture in their midst can be so emotional. I have, if I can, sculpted at the church itself and worked with associated schools in order to communicate directly.

Throughout the interview, Marcus' sense of celebration at his ecclesiastical work shone through, a feeling he summed up when he told me of a "wonderful and moving sense of celebration" that he and his family had been "fortunate enough to participate in".

Cornish says of his own work: "I have always strived to create works focused on vitality, emotional force and a celebration of the beauty of life."

"Writing to a friend recently, I mentioned how lucky I had been to have been commissioned and how good it is that sculpture can have such a purposeful role".