Church raises emblem of future
The Rev. Cynthia Taylor threw her arms up and cheered as the Celtic High Cross she designed was put into place.
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The cross, made by Keystone Monuments in Elberton, Ga., was permanently placed in front of the Church of the Holy Comforter's future home on the 400 block of Fury's Ferry Road on Friday morning. With its base, the cross is 14-feet of ornately carved blue granite weighing nearly 3 1/2 tons.
"This is a concrete, or granite, realization of what we are going to be and what we are going to do," Taylor said.
The intricate Celtic knot carvings were designed by Taylor, Peter Brodie and Selly Goodwin and includes a dove and wild geese - both Celtic symbols for the Holy Spirit.
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"I think it is fantastic," said church member Trish Darlington, just after the cross was raised into position. "It is amazing."
The cross, which cost more than $10,000 and was raised by the congregation, is a symbol of what Taylor hopes is the church's long future.
Rev. Cynthia Taylor claps with joy as the cross is set in place.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"This marker is going to be here for a long, long time," Taylor said. "The church we build will be the kind of church that our member's children's children's children will get married in."
The congregation gathered on the land, instead of Savannah Rapids Pavilion, for the Sunday service, which included a dedication and unveiling of the cross. Members gathered under tents while a bagpiper lead a procession of church leaders.
The church's youth pulled the white shroud off the cross as the piper blew Amazing Grace.
The church will not be a traditional one. It will not have stained glass windows and will take 2 to 3 years to complete, Taylor said.
"We want to take our time and really plan it well," Taylor said. "We want to grow as a congregation both numerically and spiritually. (The windows will be clear glass) so we can look out and let God's creation be the stained glass window."