Labyrinth of Light

In January 2022, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church purchased a labyrinth from Protestant Campus Ministry at Lowell (PCML), which serves UMass Lowell. Nancy Butcher, the creator of this labyrinth shared, “The Labyrinth has a life of its own.  It’s going on its own journey.”  This is the story of the labyrinth’s journey.

What sparked the inspiration for the labyrinth?

Nancy Butcher, a seminarian and field education student working with and learning from Imogene Stulken in the Protestant Campus Ministry at UMass Lowell through what was then Andover Newton Theological School, was inspired to make a labyrinth “to help people to connect with God.”  Nancy had found that it was very challenging to get people to come out to worship.  She envisioned a labyrinth as a way to connect with God, to connect with others, and build community with God and one another.  She shared, “People wanted a spiritual connection.”  The labyrinth “offered the opportunity for people’s lives to be touched by the Spirit in concert with other children of God.”

Imogene Stulken, the Protestant Campus Minister, also wanted a labyrinth.  She had heard about it at a conference.  Nancy consulted with the Reverend Paul Millin, her spiritual advisor.  Then, she did a lot of research about labyrinths.  Imogene and Nancy viewed the labyrinth as  “a necessity caused by the desire to get more people to connect with God.” Imogene shared that the labyrinth provides the opportunity to “explore, use your body, and be open to the Spirit moving in you.”

How was the design selected?

Nancy read lots of books.  She liked the Quaker design.   The final design chosen was an early Cretan design with 7 circuits (rings).  They also considered the design of the Labyrinth of Chartres in France. The labyrinth was painted purple. Purple is a sacred color.  Imogene and Nancy described purple as royal and inviting.  Imogene shared that “purple can be the color of repentance, expectation, royalty, or it can just call to you.”

How was the labyrinth created?

The labyrinth was lovingly handmade by the UMass Lowell students with the guidance of Nancy and Imogene.  Nancy extensively researched how to make a labyrinth. She described the process as “a great learning and collaborative experience.”  Nancy purchased canvas from the Home Depot.  She put snaps in it at home. Nancy worked at a biotech company at the same time she was in seminary and learning as a field education student.  She asked engineers at the biotech company for technical tips on how to calculate the line spacing of the seven circuits as well as the tools needed to create the outline of the seven circuits of the labyrinth on the canvas. 

The labyrinth was drawn and painted at Christ Church United in Lowell, UCC (Nancy’s home church at that time).  Preparing it for painting involved placing a 50-pound weight onto the shaft of a plunger in the middle of the canvas to center it in order to measure and place a mark to denote an equal distance for each circuit.  Once these marks were all made, they used a cord with a marker attached to outline each circuit so that they were exactly 12 inches apart, got on the floor, and painted.  

How were students introduced to the labyrinth?

Following painting the labyrinth, the group had a ceremony described by Nancy as “awesome, free-flowing, and ritualistic.” Imogene told students, “It’s about prayer in the whole body.  The body is doing the prayer as well.  The whole person can be involved.” One of the women who painted the labyrinth was differently abled.  When Imogene put the dedication together, she included “however you move” for inclusivity.  

What special events were held with the labyrinth at UMass Lowell?

UMass Lowell held a beautiful dedication ceremony with scripture about journeying including Psalm 143:10; Proverbs 3: 13-17; and Proverbs 2.6:11.  Once, the labyrinth was used as part of Resident Advisor Training in Fox Hall.  Resident Advisors came in in groups of 10. Imogene explained the labyrinth.  One group danced as they moved through the labyrinth.  Imogene shared that “it was delightful.” UMass Lowell hosted labyrinth events at the end of the fall and spring semesters as a stress reliever for students.  They used it in the Recreation Center with plenty of room.  Sometimes these events also included therapy dogs.  Imogene joked that one time they found a tuft of fur from one of the therapy dogs in the labyrinth’s suitcase.  The Stress Relief Fairs were moved to University Crossing in Moloney Hall.   Eventually, UMass Lowell found the labyrinth too large and cumbersome and purchased a smaller labyrinth with five circuits. 

What other groups have used the labyrinth?

PCML graciously lent the labyrinth to other groups including:  Lowell General Hospital for staff centering days; Clinical Pastoral Education at McLeans Hospital for an outdoor event; Christ Church United in Lowell; University Lutheran Church in Cambridge; and Lowell Alliance for a National Night Out event. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ayer borrowed the labyrinth for multiple events.  In 2022, St. Andrew’s purchased the labyrinth from the Protestant Campus Ministry at Lowell.  St. Andrew's agreed to continue to lend it to other groups if requested. 

What’s the history of the labyrinth at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church first borrowed the labyrinth from PCML in 2017. Isabel Geller had the idea to host a labyrinth walk in the Parish Hall as part of Epiphany, as a way to help people experience light during a time when many were experiencing a feeling of darkness due to the political climate. Isabel beautifully illuminated the labyrinth with hundreds of battery-operated candles with the Paschal candle in the center.  The Reverend Scherer-Hoock and Isabel selected scripture related to light such as Isaiah 60:1; John 8:12; and Psalm 119:105.  Visitors could read a candlelit scripture display in frames on shiny pastel paper along with scripture cards that they could reflect on during the event and take home with them.  Participants were invited to take a candle, walk slowly to the Paschal candle in the center, and walk back holding the lit candle.  It was a beautifully meditative experience. On Sunday morning following the event, the children from the St. Andrew’s Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atriums walked the labyrinth with stations on the Infancy narratives as a celebration of the Advent/Christmas Season. 

When Isabel Geller moved to New York City for Divinity School, she passed on the labyrinth to Michelle Eberle during her farewell speech.  Michelle first hosted the labyrinth in January 2020 just before the pandemic hit.  The event continued to create a spiritual experience for the community. Michelle’s centering prayer group set up the labyrinth. During October 2021, due to the pandemic, St. Andrew’s held the event on the basketball court at Sandy Pond in Ayer.  The event also included a stained-glass sidewalk chalk activity for kids and the scripture display which was created by Reverend Joyce Scherer-Hook and Isabel Geller.

What should labyrinth hosts keep in mind during set-up?

Nancy put letters on each canvas to make putting it together easier.  Eventually, they stopped taking it apart.  There are detailed directions in the suitcase about how to fold it.  Some helpful advice: “to fit it in the suitcase, sit on it!” Nancy and PCML did not tape the edges, but St. Andrew’s Church has found it helpful to tape the edges with gaffer tape.  Also, the Velcro seems to hold it together pretty well.  The snaps are optional.

Future of the Labyrinth

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is planning a dedication ceremony with scripture from the UMass Lowell ceremony graciously provided by Pastor Imogene Stulken. St. Andrew’s plans to host an annual labyrinth walk open to the community.  St. Andrew’s submitted for inclusion in the labyrinth to the Labyrinth Society’s World-Wide Labyrinth Locator.

Final Reflections

This labyrinth was created as an opportunity to bring a spiritual experience to those who may not be likely to attend church.  The labyrinth has brought much joy, peace, and comfort to all who walked, danced, and moved on it.  Children and teens have danced. One journeyer shared that walking the labyrinth helped relieve her grief.  A woman who had not attended church in many years told the host that she had not felt so connected with God in a long time and wept with joy.  Nancy Butcher, the creator of the labyrinth, expresses the joy of the labyrinth:

“The beauty is animals use it, adults, use it, children use it – what a beautiful traveling to find God” – Nancy Butcher