CAPTION: Around 75 people walked the beach labyrinth at Wembury
Wembury Beach Labyrinth Invites People to Pray for the Planet
Wembury beach was the location for the first beach labyrinth in a new collaboration between Cornish artist Andrew Nicholson and the Diocese of Exeter.
The focus of the event was an environmental one: our care for the planet. Beachgoers were invited to walk the circular path of the labyrinth and bring their concerns about the envionment, make a pledge, reflect, pray and give thanks for special places in their lives.
“Everyone who went into it came out and wanted to talk about the experience” Rev’d Alan Ryan
The labyrinth was hosted by St Werbugh’s church in Wembury and church members helped to create it.
People were invited to pray and reflect on the environment
Andrew Nicholson said “It didn’t look too promising at first when I arrived in thick fog, but the weather cleared up, and turned out to be an a wonderful day of labyrinth action!
“The response from people on the beach was brilliant. Around 75 people walked it through the afternoon, but it was the overwhelmingly positive comments and feedback that really made the day – so many people were so thankful and grateful.
Some of the comments included: “This is fantastic”, “I’ve never done anything like this before – I loved it!” “Thank you so much for this, I really appreciated this”, “Soothing”, “Really helped me to reflect”.
Circular labyrinths have been used by Christians for hundreds of years as a way of praying and reflecting. People are encouraged to walk the circular path from the outside in, as a symbolic physical and spiritual journey to be closer to God.
The Rev’d Alan Ryan, Team Rector of the Yealm and Erme Mission Community, said “It was the best day in two years! It was fantastic – people working together and then taking ownership of what they had created.
“This meant that they wanted people to engage with what they had created and experience the journey of the labyrinth.
“Everyone who went into it came out and wanted to talk about the experience. Many found that it had a profound effect: slowed them down; wrapped them up; they felt safe.”
Andrew said the labyrinth, which lasted until the tide came in, was appreciated by people of all ages: “I found that children who were six or seven, or even younger, were able to articulate very clearly some of their concerns for the planet which was quite moving.”
He is scheduled to create another beach labyrinth at Westward Ho! on 23 October and a number of Devon churches are already signed-up to host labyrinths in 2022.
