Labyrinth on the Green

On May 6th, 2024, volunteers completed painting the Labyrinth template at St. Peter’s Green.
Once foundation digging begins, the altar hangings and clergy vestments ruined in the December 2023 fire will be laid out within the Labyrinth circumference and covered with soil and stone dust. Next, bricks from the original church building will be set in place. These hangings, vestments and bricks will have been set apart through dedication and blessing, and serve as a sacred foundation for the Labyrinth.
Brochures will be provided to guide visitors through the Labyrinth with instructions and sample prayers.

What is a Labyrinth?

A circular path found across all traditions of worship, the labyrinth has a singular way in and out with one winding route to the center. Unlike a maze that has dead ends, a labyrinth has no wrong turns. 

Symbolic of a pilgrimage or spiritual journey, labyrinths have historically been used for walking meditation and prayer, to enhance creativity and self-reflection, and to reduce anxiety.

The earliest examples of labyrinths are more than 4,000 years old, found in a variety of cultures and designs, usually connected to a worship site.

Here is one person's recent experience:

"I just walked the labyrinth [at St. Peter's], and thank God I did it alone. I took some photos of my views, the thoughts they evoked, and I cried a bit as I went along. What a trip! What an experience! I had no idea it would be like that." 

Resources:

The Labyrinth at Trinity, Fredericksburg

The Labyrinth at Shrine Mont

The Labyrinth in the Woods at St. Mary's Whitechapel