CHURCH LABYRINTHS

by Robert Ferré

The Christian church adopted the labyrinth as a symbol quite early on. The oldest known church labyrinth is a converted Roman labyrinth found in the Basilica of Reparata in North Africa in the city of Castellum Tingitanum, later known as Al-Asnam, Orleansville. (The labyrinth is now in a museum in Algiers.) The conversion of the ancient classical labyrinth into a round, 11-circuit labyrinth with Christian symbolism began in manuscript drawings as early as the 7th or 8th century.

I point this out to show that there is a Christian tradition with regards to labyrinths. However, there is also a non-Christian tradition, usually either generic or earth-based, pagan in nature. I support all uses of labyrinths, but at the same time, realize that it is not helpful to give conservative church committees books about labyrinths that talk about goddesses and dowsing and earth energies, even though that may be good stuff.

So, we wrote this book in church-acceptable language. It is in question-and-answer format and includes 79 questions covering all aspects of labyrinth use within a church context. In the appendix, we have included extensive quotations from seven different labyrinth books (with their permission) with regards to using labyrinths in churches.