Labyrinth restoration? Yes, we do that!

A labyrinth ready for restoration

One of the many services we provide is labyrinth restoration. In August 2018, we returned to Knoxville, Tennessee, to refurbish the labyrinth we created in 2001 for St. John's Cathedral. Commissioned by the Wright children, the Mary Clark Wright Memorial Labyrinth has been well cared for, but it definitely needed some tender, loving care after many years of weathering the wet climate of East Tennessee.

We felt so blessed to be back at St. John’s. This labyrinth holds a special place in our hearts because the dedication ceremony was held in September 2001, just a few days before the tragic events unfolded on 9/11. On that fateful day, people lined up around the whole city block to walk the labyrinth, seeking its sure path during that time of profound uncertainty.

Refurbishing a labyrinth involves a laborious three-part process: power washing, sanding, and sealing. Also, it’s usually a good idea to freshen up the contrast between the pavers during a complete restoration, especially if the pavers have faded from weather exposure.

Weather exposure can fade the paver colors over time.

The process begins with removing the accumulated dirt and debris—what we call the “sacred muck”—which can take three days (or more) of meticulous power washing. Special care needs to be taken to avoid damaging the pavers, especially the smallest of hand-carved shims. This Chartres-pattern labyrinth is 39 feet in diameter with a path width of 12.5 inches and a total path length of 750 feet, featuring thousands of hand-sculpted terracotta and light gray paving stones to create the lunations, trefoils, and the petals of the rosette. At the end of every eight-hour day, Marty was soaking wet and covered with sacred muck—a combination of dirt, compost, grime, candle wax, and bird droppings.

The Outlaws performing on Market Square

Amidst all of the hard work, we also had some time to enjoy ourselves. St. John’s Cathedral is located in the heart of Knoxville’s vibrant downtown, and we were fortunate to stay at the lovely new Hyatt Hotel just a couple of blocks away. We especially enjoyed visiting lively Market Square, particularly the Farmers Market, which features locally grown produce, great food, and excellent entertainment. One of our favorite buskers was The Outlaws, a duo playing their own soulful brand of folk and bluegrass music.

Debi and Rose of Sharon blessing the sand.

After the power washing is finished, the next step is usually staining the lines if necessary, but St. John’s preferred the muted contrast of the pavers, so we began the sanding process. Sanding the labyrinth involves filling all of the seams with bricklayer's sand, a finer grade of sand with smaller particles for such detailed work. One of the extra special things we do during the restoration process is to bless the sand before filling in the spaces between the pavers, asking for peace and healing for all of the pilgrims who will walk the path and expressing love and gratitude for all. A gorgeous Rose of Sharon, pictured behind Debi, assisted with the process, reminding all to walk in beauty

The Sand Blessing

We apply the personal touch to every labyrinth restoration process, filling the tiniest spaces by hand before we apply the sealer. Every square inch of paver receives a personal blessing to help the labyrinth do its work in the world. 

Applying the sealer

We finish the restoration by applying 45 gallons of sealer on the labyrinth. At St. John’s we also sealed the courtyard so that everything matched and looked fresh. Fortunately, we had sunny weather to do the work.

Another job well done!

After two full weeks of power washing, sanding, and sealing, the restoration of the Mary Clark Wright Memorial Labyrinth is complete. The labyrinth looks nearly brand new, and it’s ready for many more years of service to the church and the community. We had a wonderful time in Knoxville, which has such a great vibe. Restoring this beautiful labyrinth has reminded us of how much we love the work we do in the world. Even when you end the day covered with sacred muck, it helps to start each morning with a grateful heart!