The challenge of uninstalling a labyrinth: Galveston, Part II

The William Temple Episcopal Center labyrinth in Galveston, Texas

In 2013, we received a call from our friend Kay Sandor in Galveston regarding a labyrinth we had installed in 2001 at The William Temple Episcopal Center. The beloved community labyrinth was in jeopardy because it was in the way of a redevelopment plan for the downtown space. Despite vociferous opposition by isle community residents, led by Kay, the labyrinth had to be moved or it would be destroyed. Could we possibly uninstall the labyrinth?

De-installation of the labyrinth involved more than 5,000 hand-sculpted pieces.

Good question. We have installed a lot of labyrinths, but we had never been asked to remove one. De-installing a labyrinth is much more complicated than, say, removing a patio. The main reason is because a labyrinth is a sacred work of art which has been created specially for the installation site. More than 5,000 hand-sculpted pavers went into the making of this labyrinth. Each piece would have to be measured, removed, cleaned, labeled, and meticulously inventoried for storage until a suitable space could be found to re-install the labyrinth. Fortunately, by the time we were ready to take on the challenge, the labyrinth had found a new home at Moody Methodist Church across town, thanks to the fierce advocacy of Kay Sandor and her dedicated group of labyrinth enthusiasts.

Isle community residents, led by Kay Sandor, came together to save their beloved labyrinth.

This particular labyrinth was beloved by so many people in the community. While we were carefully removing each brick paver, many people stopped by to tell us how much the labyrinth meant to them, sharing stories and expressing their gratitude for the labyrinth and its makers. They told us how they had walked it to pray, solve problems, deal with illness, reduce stress, relieve anxiety, heal a relationship--on and on. Most of them expressed sorrow that the labyrinth would no longer exist in the current location, and a few were quite distressed about its removal. Little did they know when they shared their stories that they were talking with the creators of the labyrinth! Listening to their stories was so humbling, and it felt so sacred--almost like confession--that we never revealed our identity to a single soul. Our hearts swelled with gratitude, hearing that our work in the world had helped so many people in so many ways. 

Marty meticulously measures the placement of pavers to prepare for their removal.

With the invaluable assistance of our friend Dave Keller, we carefully measured, removed, cleaned, cataloged, and palletted each paver, transferring sections to a flatbed trailer to transport to the new location. We could feel the emotions that walkers had left in the pavers, and as we cleaned them for reuse, we blessed everyone who had ever walked this sacred path. We felt sad for the people who would miss it in this location, yet we were glad that the labyrinth would have a new life at another church nearby.

A portion of the rosette is ready to transport to the new location.

The whole process would not have been possible, however, without the fierce advocacy of Kay Sandor and the skilled help of Dave Keller. We are also grateful for the proactive work by all of the community advocates and church leaders, who created a plan of succession for the labyrinth, treating it as a valuable resource with the utmost respect for this sacred work of art and the people who use it as a spiritual tool.

The labyrinth's beautiful new home at Moody Methodist Church

The labyrinth now has a beautiful new home at Moody Methodist Church, where it continues to serve congregants, community members, and visitors to the Galveston area. We are so grateful to the people of Galveston for their dedicated efforts to save the labyrinth for the sake of the community and everyone who will benefit from walking this sacred work of art.

On the move in Galveston, Part I

Labyrinths in Stone begins construction on the William Temple Episcopal Center Labyrinth in 2001.

When development plans threatened the destruction of one of our beautiful artworks in Galveston, Texas, Labyrinths in Stone was called to action. Led by our dear friend Kay Sandor, the isle community’s efforts to save their beloved labyrinth gave us the opportunity to do something we had never done before: move a Chartres-pattern brick-paver labyrinth to a new location.

In March-April 2001, Episcopal Church and UTMC Galveston commissioned Labyrinths in Stone to create the William Temple Episcopal Center Labyrinth. The beautiful 39-foot Chartres-pattern labyrinth was the centerpiece of the Labyrinth Meditation Garden between the church and the hospital.

The William Temple Episcopal Center Labyrinth was dedicated to the well-being of the Galveston isle community.

For more than 12 years, the William Temple Episcopal Center Labyrinth was an integral part of the Galveston isle community. Kay Sandor facilitated monthly Full Moon Walks and Seasonal Sunrise Walks to celebrate the solstices and equinoxes. The labyrinth also attracted many different types of visitors: church members, community groups, faculty and staff, students, and tourists— even researchers and their subjects studying the effects of walking labyrinths. One of the most moving stories about using the labyrinth for healing featured a group of nine severely burned Saudi Arabian children who walked the labyrinth more than 30 times over the course of a two-year study.

The William Temple Episcopal Center Labyrinth hosted many community events during its lifetime. 

Then in 2014, we received word from Kay that the property was going to be sold to pave the way for new development, which meant the labyrinth would be demolished. Those in the labyrinth world were in disbelief because removing a labyrinth is akin to destroying a holy shrine. Members of the local community were in denial that the church would dismantle the popular landmark and sacred site. Yet the development plans moved forward despite vociferous opposition.

Then something magical happened: a bold move by the members of this small isle community.

Embarking on a journey from unknowing to revelation, community members entered liminal space with the labyrinth. The word “liminal” comes from the Latin word “limens,” which means “threshold.” According to psychology, liminal space is a place of transition, waiting, and not knowing before we cross the threshold of divine disclosure.

Many groups used the William Temple Episcopal Center Labyrinth.

The Galveston isle community did not want to lose their labyrinth. When they chose to enter liminal space, however, they embraced the possible loss with strength and courage. Led by Kay, they boldly stepped into a place of waiting and not knowing while at the same time doing everything they could to save it, which included reaching out to other churches in the area and asking for our assistance. Their efforts were rewarded.

On January 27, 2014, the good news was announced in the local paper: the spiritual landmark would not be destroyed to make way for development after all. Instead, the labyrinth would be moved to Moody Methodist Church across town.

Marty meticulously measures the pavers to move the pathway.

We felt apprehensive when Kay called to request our assistance. We had never moved one of our artworks from one place to another, but we were determined to help the community save their beloved labyrinth. With the help of our friend Dave Keller, Labyrinths in Stone began the laborious process of preparing the labyrinth for the move to Moody's brand-new Meditation Garden. What a learning process! Section by section, the pavers were meticulously marked, cataloged, palleted, loaded on a flatbed trailer, and transported across town. As the labyrinth slowly disappeared at one end of town, it slowly reappeared at the other—like magic!

Marty and Dave unload sections to recreate the labyrinth in its new location at Moody Methodist Church.

One community’s experience of embracing liminal space gave us the opportunity to do something we had never done before. We could not have made the move without the help of Kay Sandor and Dave Keller. The labyrinth was saved, and everyone was the better for it. When we were called to action to do the seemingly impossible, we entered liminal space, too, and emerged with a new skill and level of mastery that we could add to the services we offer. Need to move a labyrinth? Yes, we can do that!

The labyrinth is the centerpiece of the Meditation Garden at Moody Methodist Church.