|
|
 |
| |
The labyrinth planned for the courtyard of St Giles’ in Cripplegate is from the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France |
Labyrinthine plot for Barbican church
St Giles’ of Cripplegate returns to a Crusade tradition
A GIANT maze – the first in the world to be built from valuable Portland Stone – is planned for a Barbican church.
The vicar of St Giles’ Cripplegate says she hopes for a return to the tradition of people “walking” their prayers as worshippers did during the Crusades.
The labyrinth, which will be laid into the courtyard outside the church, is of the same design as the maze inside Chartres Catherdral in France.
A fundraising drive is now under way to raise an estimated £150,000 to build and lay the Portland Stone flagstones, each costing £100.
When finished, the labyrinth will span 40 feet in diameter with the stones weighing many tons.
Reverend Katherine Rumens of St Giles’ Cripplegate, said: “The idea of the labyrinth is deeply rooted in Christian tradition. The labyrinth at St Giles’ will be an enduring work of art with many uses: meditation, reflection, contemplation, education and play.”
She added: “We are taking the labyrinth from the floor of Chartres Cathedral and putting it outside. It is about the ancient tradition of walking one’s prayers and improving access. Churches need to look at new ways of reaching people because their spiritual needs don’t just stop at 4pm.
“There is a real resurgence in the movement of walking your prayers.”
St Giles’ is in the heart of the Barbican complex, something of a labyrinth itself, and is across the lake from the central of the compound.
In 2001, a group called Time For Peace constructed a temporary maze based on a similar design in the courtyard.
Michael Poultney, owner of Albion Stone, the country’s biggest Portland Stone wholesalers, said the rock will cost the church around £2,500 per cubic metre.
Each cubic metre weighs between two and three tons. He said: “There isn’t a maze made out of Portland Stone anywhere in the world.”
Portland Stone, which comes only from quarries off the coast of Dorset, is popular because it is hardwearing yet easy for stonemasons to work.
But the rocks at St Giles’ will have to be securely fastened as thieves favour levering up both Portland and its similarly valuable cousin, York Stone.
For information on the appeal, call the church on 020 7638 1997. |
 |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
