A Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas
The Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly, D.D. Bishop

The Labyrinth Formation

On April 6, 2000, Fr. Bob Wells walked the labyrinth at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Kerrville. As he walked he had the thought of a labyrinth at the William Temple Center in Galveston. That evening at the Quiet House at Laity Lodge, he felt a deep conviction a labyrinth would be built in Galveston.

Returning to Galveston, Fr. Bob wrote an article in the William Temple Center newsletter about the idea of a labyrinth, he then talked with a few people inviting them to read Lauren Artress' book, "Walking A Sacred Path." Confirmation of the deep impression to build a labyrinth came from many directions and a group gathered on June 8, 2000 to discuss the reality of moving in this direction.

About 53 people walked the Labyrinth during morning and afternoon sessions held Aug. 12 at Moody Memorial First United Mehodist Church. The winding path that takes us to the center of the labyrinth becomes a metaphor for our own spiritual journey.

On August 12, two public walks on a canvas labyrinth were offered by the William Temple Center in the gym of the Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church. Twenty-seven people walked in the morning session and 23 in the afternoon. The two facilitators for the day were Patty Turney and Stephanie Visokay. On August 22, at the fourth meeting of the labyrinth group, the consensus was to build an outdoor labyrinth. To start the momentum, a canvas labyrinth, made by Robert Ferre of St. Louis, was purchased.

On August 29, Fr. Bob went to visit Jack Bushong, Executive Secretary of the Rotary Club of Galveston at his invitation. Bushong thought the labyrinth garden would be a great Rotary Club community project in which to invest. Fr. Bob met with the Rotary Long Range Planning Committee, the Board of Directors and finally the Board of Trustees of the Rotary Club's Foundation. On February 7, 2001 the Rotary Foundation Board voted to contribute $80,000 to this project. The project would be announced as "The Rotary Club of Galveston in partnership with the William Temple Episcopal Center offers you this 'Rotary Labyrinth and Meditation Garden' so that you may listen to the longing of your heart."

White flags marked the outline where a stone labyrinth would be built at the William Temple Foundation. An $80,000 grant from the Rotary Foundation would be used to build the labyrinth. Pictured are, from left, The Rev. Bob Wells, Jim Rice, Al Fellows, the late Martha Fellows, Marshall Stein, Fred Raschke and the late Bill Felts.

On February 7 Marty Kermeen was hired to construct a 40 ft Chartres-type labyrinth. Marty and his crew began on March 11 and finished on March 28, 2001.

During the summer of 2001, the property was cleared around the labyrinth, removing an old fence and a "wall" of 14-foot Oleanders. In February and March, three berms were constructed in the corners of the garden, a path was created leading from the sidewalk to the entrance of the labyrinth and two signs were made for the garden.

On March 27, 2002, the Rotary Labyrinth and Meditation Garden was publicly dedicated. The Right Reverend Claude E. Payne, DD, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas was present to preside and dedicated the labyrinth garden. Fred Raschke, representing the Rotary Club of Galveston and their Rotary Foundation, along with the Reverend Robert L. Wells presented the labyrinth garden to Bishop Payne to bless and dedicate it.

The garden is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all people of all cultures, faiths and traditions.

Three University of Texas Medical Branch faculity members, Kay Sandor, Ph.D., School of Nursing; Victor Sierpina, MD, School of Medicine and Sandra Hatch, MD, medical director of the Radiation-Oncology Department at UTMB, spoke of how they are using the labyrinth in their teaching and treatment. In her talk Dr. Hatch referred to the Labyrinth as a “ tool which provides emotional, spiritual and mental healing."

Approximately 150 Rotarians and other members of the community attended the dedication which began and ended with bagpipe music by Stanley Fontenot of League City.

The dedication marked the completion of Phase II of the Rotary Labyrinth and Meditation Garden. More landscaping took place as funds became available.

John Campbell of the Galveston Foundation, who originally donated 15 oak trees to the William Temple Center, most of which surround the Labyrinth, installed the underground watering system for the entire Rotary Labyrinth and Meditation Garden.

Al Fellows and the late Martha Fellows donated four concrete benches for the Garden. Many other donations have been received in memory and in honor of friends or loved ones. These donors will be enscribed on a special Labyrinth Garden Wall on the north side of the William Temple Episcopal Center and on plaques and benches throughout the garden.

427 Market St. Galveston TX 77550

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