St Columbas : World Labyrinth Day – May 3rd

We have a beautiful peaceful labyrinth on the grounds of St Columbas in Grey Lynn.

It was refurbished in 2023, and members of our wider community are encouraged to enjoy this unique resource.

It is open to the public during daylight hours, for meditation, contemplation, prayer or simply walking.
Once a year is World Labryinth Day on May 3rd. https://www.worldlabyrinthday.org

History

The Grey Lynn Anglican church of Saint Columba was built in 1930 to replace the original church that had served the parish since 1909. The church is built of brick with a tiled roof in the Victorian Gothic style, with a wooden tower and copper canopy.

The labyrinth is located at the west end of the church and is surrounded by gardens.

The labyrinth is based on the Chartres design and painted in swirling blues, greens and browns to reflect the colours of the South Pacific. It was designed by John Allen and installed by the St.Columba Labyrinth creation team in 2004-2005. It is made of painted concrete and is 13 metres in diameter.

What is a labyrinth?
A labyrinth is a sacred pathway, walked as a pilgrimage. It is found in religious traditions in various forms around the world. There is only one path so there are no dead ends – it is not a maze.

Why create a Labyrinth?
As buildings and the pace of our lives encroach upon our outward and inward space, it becomes increasingly important to find ways to restore a sense of space and peace. The concept of the Labyrinth has been remembered and addresses these problems in a simple and beautiful way. Labyrinths are extremely economical in terms of space, which means that pockets of disused urban land can be transformed into needed spots of beauty.

A short history of the Labyrinth
In Medieval times, the pattern of a labyrinth was marked out in a sacred space such as a Cathedral. Pilgrims who were unable to make an actual pilgrimage, would make a pilgrimage of the heart, their feet pacing the intricate pattern into the centre of the labyrinth, then retracing their steps back. In a similar way, hundreds of years later, labyrinths are being created in quiet places so that we, who are unable to make long retreats from our busy lives may find refreshment in these small havens of peace.