The people of St. Paul's built a seven circuit Chartres style labyrinth on the West side of the church in the Spring of 2003. Labyrinths have most likely always been used in a spiritual manner. They can create a heightened awareness of the human condition and aid psychological and spiritual growth. To build a labyrinth is to create a sacred space. To walk a labyrinth is to imbue it with power and meaning. The more a labyrinth is used the more powerful it becomes as a symbol of transformation.

In the 13th century, labyrinths were constructed in cathedrals so that devout Christians, instead of making the costly and perilous pilgrimage to the Holy Land, could travel to one of these sites and walk the labyrinth, which would represent their arrival in Jerusalem. Today, however, the labyrinth walk is commonly used as a metaphor of one’s life journey. As the pathway design is complicated, it is not possible to discern the entire pattern at one time. Thus, it is similar to our life journey in that we cannot see ahead and know where our journey will lead us.

Some labyrinth places to surf: