Amlach church tower weather vane and cross restored after lightning strike

The weather vane and cross atop the 43-metre church tower in Amlach, East Tyrol, have been restored and regilded, ORF reports. A lightning strike damaged both in 2004.

Church tower roofer Walter Perfler said the strike left the weather vane completely black, despite the tower being grounded with a lightning conductor. The gold or coating usually burns off, he said. A new weather vane was made and gilded, while the cross was regilded after crows had scratched it.

Donations and help from the community supported the work. The church tower, dedicated to Saint Ottilie, was completed with the restoration, and the tower decorations were consecrated in May.