Religious icon or just a nice shape to carve??

I grew up going to church, it was part of family life and at one time was the whole focus of our family social life. Suffice it to say I know my way around the Anglican Church.

Anyway, in later years I realised that all of those little dissatisfactions added up into a fairly serious rejection of the dogma and hypochrisy of the whole "organised religion" thing.

I left, but I still retain a healthy respect for the sense of wellbeing and fellowship that many people derive from being a part of the church. I also find that many people take a great deal of comfort from some of the symbols and icons which are used by most Christian faiths.

Probably the most well known is the cross, odd for an instrument of torture and excruciatingly painfull death to be so revered and to give so much comfort....

Anyway I have, over the years carved a number of both crosses and crucifixes. All have been given as gifts and so have been carved the recipient in mind.

This is an exception to that, it wasn't carved for anyone and is currently just sitting in my finished box.
It's around 3inches long and carved from Yew.