Until recently, this delicately-crafted Somerset weather cock, which dates back more than 150 years, had not been down from its perch in decades.
But after a brief spell in a workshop in Port Isaac, the 25lb bird has been lovingly re-gilded and will soon fly back to its rightful home – atop St John's church, in Yeovil.
David Dawson, 79, whose family steeplejack firm dates back to 1837, has painstakingly covered the copper sculpture with "double regular" gold leaf. David, who has been in the business since he was 16, considers this cockerel a great example of workmanship which is rarely appreciated at close quarters.
"This is what we call a full-bellied weather cock with feet gripping the perch," he added. "It is a lovely example with wings, wattles and a nice comb and should go on for another 30 years or longer."
Mr Dawson explained the origin of topping church towers with cocks is rooted in religious tradition.
He says a Papal bull in the 6th century ordered churches to install the creatures to remind the faithful that the Almighty was keeping a watchful eye over his flock.
There are even a few remaining examples of cocks fitted with tubes which emitted an actual crowing sound.
The birds used to be peppered with bullet holes after locals used them as target practice, but this is now rare.
These days pollution and the weather are their worst enemies and they tend to be renovated when steeplejacks go up to test out lightning conductors.
"The cockerel is the first thing to rise in the morning and the last to go down at night – keeping a watchful eye from dawn to dusk," Mr Dawson added. "This one is made from two halves like an Easter egg – you have to bang it out from the backside to make the belly open. One like this could cost as much as £1,500 to make – when he is back up and the sun gets on him he will really shine out."
