You see the cross in the church grounds before you see the doors. This one stands on the paved grounds in front of the entrance: stone, a pedestal, already in place. Here it is easy to see that such a cross is not a separate object but part of the architecture of the grounds.

A cross in the church grounds: what is depicted on it

The ends of the cross are three-lobed. This form is associated with the trefoil, a sign of the Holy Trinity.

At the centre is a pale Crucifixion in relief on darker stone. Above it is the winged head of an angel, a cherub. At the ends of the crossbar are two small figures. These are the attendant figures: by tradition, the Mother of God and John the Theologian. The Gospel of John mentions the mother of Jesus and the disciple whom He loved beside the cross (John 19:25–27).

Beneath the Crucifixion is an oval relief of Golgotha with a cave and a skull, which according to church tradition is the head of Adam. We wrote about this image separately: “Stone cross with the Crucifixion: how to read it from the bottom up”.

A stone cross by a church: entrance, path, background

A cross in front of the entrance stands on a person’s path. You cannot reach the doors without passing it.

That is why the place is chosen not as “wherever there is room” but in relation to two lines: the axis of the entrance and the path. A cross on the axis meets those who walk towards the church. A cross to the side of the path accompanies them. These are different roles, and each is an honest one.

What lies behind also matters. Against a wall, a cross reads by tone and relief; against the sky, only a silhouette of it remains.

A cross on a pedestal: how the height relates to the church

A pedestal, according to the dictionary, is a tall stand or foot on which a monument or sculpture is set. Here it does two things: it lifts the cross above the paving and gives a surface for a plaque.

The height of such a cross is measured not only in metres but also against the church behind it. A cross that is too small gets lost in front of a tall façade. One that is too large begins to compete with the entrance. So on the sketch the cross should be seen together with the façade, at the same scale.

Pale relief on darker stone: why it is seen from afar

A relief of the same colour as its background lives by shadow. On an overcast day the shadow weakens, and the figure merges with the stone.

Contrast of tone depends on the weather far less. A pale figure on a darker background reads in sun and in drizzle alike. From afar one sees the silhouette of the cross and the Crucifixion. The cherub, the attendant figures and Golgotha reveal themselves only close up.

A cross with the Crucifixion and a plaque: words on the pedestal

On the pedestal is a pale plaque with words of Christ from the Gospel of John (John 14:6). In English they read: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (RSV). It is the answer to the apostle Thomas, who had asked about the way (John 14:5).

For a cross that people pass on their way to the church doors, words about the way are in the right place.

What to decide before ordering

The place in relation to the entrance and the path. Where people approach the cross from, and from which side it is most often seen.
The height together with the pedestal. It is checked against the façade, not on a blank sheet.
Contrast. Pale relief on darker stone, or a single tone: this determines what is seen from afar.
The text of the plaque. Which verse, in which language and in which lettering: this is worth agreeing with the rector in advance.

Questions and answers

How tall should a cross in the church grounds be? There is no single figure. The height is chosen according to the façade behind and the distance from which the cross is viewed.

Is a pedestal required? No. It is needed where the cross must be raised above the paving or given room for an inscription.

How does an order begin? With a photograph and the dimensions of the site. Then the sketch and drawing, approval, fabrication and installation.

If you are planning a cross in front of a church, send a photograph of the grounds and the entrance, and we will suggest the place and the height: +380 66 892 98 18. More about this line of work is on the Crosses page.