This page comes from the newsletter of Broadmead Baptist Church, known as The Record. The Record has been produced since 1934.
The Broadmead Cross
This cross, like all representations of the cross of Jesus Christ, symbolises his suffering and death for all humanity.
The arms reach outwards, like the arms of God, in love and forgiveness, gathering all suffering to himself
The space between the two upright members represents the fact that Christ is no longer dead. Beyond the cross there is the Resurrection.
The upright members point upwards to denote Christ's Ascension.
From The Record - Christmas Trees and Summer Holidays
What a peculiar title, you may think. On the face of it there is no obvious connection, but if you cast your mind back to the last Christmas Tree Festival you may recall that Ruth and Ian Gouldbourne cleared a space on the floor of the sanctuary and laid out a labyrinth. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools and we had the opportunity to walk through and stop at certain points to pray, meditate or give thanks, prompted by items left at points along the way. The chairs were put back for Sunday morning worship and removed again after the service until the festival closed.
The most famous remaining intact labyrinth is found in Chartres Cathedral in France. It is inlaid on the floor of the nave and was constructed around AD1200. Pilgrims used to walk it as a symbolic journey to Jerusalem, with a view to finding Christ at the centre. However, in recent years the labyrinth has begun to be used more broadly for meditational and spiritual purposes. It can be used as a walking meditation, a way to finding your own spiritual centre. Usage is very individual; there is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth. It is a powerful tool to illuminating one's path through life.
Needing an overnight stop at the beginning of our holiday in June, we took the opportunity to stay in Chartres and visit the cathedral. The cathedral was designated a World Heritage Site in 1979. A bit of research beforehand showed that the labyrinth is only uncovered on Fridays, normally in the morning. However in the summer it is often uncovered until evensong. We checked in at the hotel about 4 p.m. then went straight to the cathedral to find that it was still uncovered. Even in the dim light the sight of this intricate circular pattern on the floor was impressive to say the least.
I must confess that I set about my walk with not much thought other than how pleased I was to have the opportunity to see it at last. As the journey progressed I was surprised at the changes my feelings underwent. Although I was walking towards the centre of this huge circle I had no idea how I was going to reach it. The path twisted and turned many times and sometimes it was only a few steps before it changed direction. The path also took unexpected turns, giving the impression that it would avoid the centre completely. Around the outer edge, with its long curves the pace was gentle.
I must say at this point that it is impossible to walk the labyrinth without looking at the floor. Take your eyes off it and you might find yourself back at the beginning! Although there is a need to concentrate whilst following the path there is time to think and reflect along the way.
The journey through the labyrinth is like life itself, full of twists and turns. Whether it is on a personal level, or as a church, we simply don’t know what’s coming next.
Suddenly the path took a final turn and a few more steps found me standing at the centre. After concentrating in the dim light the sight of the beautiful stained glass lit up by the sun was truly breathtaking. I said a silent prayer which seemed totally inadequate in such a beautiful and historic setting. Walking the labyrinth was certainly a moving and emotional experience and I’m glad I had the chance to follow in the footsteps of the multitude of pilgrims who have done this over the years.
The next morning we went back to the cathedral and found the chairs back in place, the labyrinth barely noticeable. Which brings me back full circle. After the festival the tape marking out the Broadmead labyrinth was removed. It is still possible to see the outline in places, but as in Chartres it spends most of its time covered by chairs. ANN CLARK
Last updated: 26-07-10