Church leaders have united to beg a town council to remove a controversial Earth Goddess £80,000 statue.
The group have penned a letter arguing the installation of the 11.5 metre tall figure shows the Cornish local authority has "likely unknowingly" chosen to "reject God".
Artist Sandy Brown's ceramic sculpture - the largest in the UK - was not wholly well-received after it was unveiled in St Austell's Aylmer Square, with some locals likening it to a child's artwork.
Some joked it looked more like a sword or even a kebab, reports CornwallLive.
But seven of Cornwall's religious leaders think it's worse than that, and have urged St Austell Town Council to take down the colourful icon.
The cohort expressed their concerns about the potentially negative impact it would have on the town, suggesting "significant changes" or a relocation.
The letter, shared by the Guardian, said: “The choice to erect a statue of an ‘earth goddess’ means that as the leaders of the town you are actively, though likely unknowingly, choosing to reject God and instead to bring the town under the spiritual influence of an ‘earth goddess’.
“We understand this may sound strange and may not be language that you are comfortable with.
"However, as Christians we believe there is a spiritual reality to our world and so this is not an insignificant choice and has the potential to impact on the town in negative ways."
They added "at the very least" the name needs to change so it is an abstract piece of art "with no spiritual element".
Sandy told the newspaper she was "saddened and disappointed" at the reaction, saying her work was intended to celebrate 'Mother Earth' and did not have an intended religious message.
She added that the sculpture is also supposed to celebrate the area's strong ties to China's clay trade.
Town councillor Richard Pears, who was mayor at the time plans for the statue were underway, said he was also surprised by the letter.
He said that not since the Reformation has a group of church leaders written to a council "demanding the destruction of public art on the grounds it offends the Almighty".
“It all feels rather medieval.”
Earlier this month, hundreds of people also signed a petition calling for the removal of the controversial statue, with one person even claiming it is “an offence to God”.
Lawrence Williams said: “A commissioned artwork shouldn’t have any religious connotations which are now being imposed upon the town of St Austell.
"This is an offence not only to members of the public, but also to God.
"Just imagine the amount of good that could have come from that £80,000 could have fed and homed homeless people.”
