Outdoor spaces

St. Martin’s labyrinth was built in November 2009 by a team of St. Martin’s volunteers under the direction of labyrinth designer and artist Robert Ferré. With a diameter of 42 feet, 3 and 3/8 inches and 11 circuits, it is the same pattern and design as that of the ancient labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France. Made of concrete and granite resin, it is a permanent and magnificent structure on our church grounds. People use labyrinths in many ways—for meditation, reflection, prayer, centering, healing, and simply enjoyment. St. Martin’s labyrinth is in a peaceful setting, surrounded by redwood and cypress trees, a winding decomposed granite path, and wooden benches. Our labyrinth is open to the public and accessible 24 hours a day. We find it used every single day by parishioners as well as college students, faith communities, workshop and retreat participants, clients of the neighboring medical offices and apartment complex, and other Davis residents. All are welcome. We hope our labyrinth brings insight, peace, and renewal to all who walk its path.

This garden, located front and center on the church property, was planned by the Landscape Committee in 2015 (designed by committee-member Greg Webber and installed by Dan Garrett Landscape). With this garden and everywhere on our grounds, we aim to make our landscaping as water efficient as possible, having converted much of our irrigation from above ground rotors to underground targeted drip in several areas.

Adjacent to the labyrinth, but separated from it by a large wrought iron gate, is St. Martin’s columbarium. The columbarium is a peaceful space under magnificent redwood trees where the cremated remains of loved ones may be laid to rest and cared for in perpetuity. The term columbarium is derived from the Latin “Columba,” meaning dove, an almost universal symbol of God’s love and peace. Our current columbarium insert contains two sections of 60 niches each (120 total). The second set of 60 niches was installed 2016.

Our lych gate (built in 2013) serves as a gateway leading to the columbarium and labyrinth from the front of the church grounds. Traditionally found at the entrance to Anglican church yards in England, a lych gate is an entrance with a covered roof where corpses were placed awaiting entry into the church yard. St. Martin’s lych gate is made of the same lumber used to build the narthex shade structure and has a metal roof matching the parish hall and sanctuary roofs. In addition to being a gateway to the labyrinth and columbarium, the lych gate has two benches and serves as a covered seating area for small groups or individuals who wish to enjoy the quiet and beauty of our grounds.

Outside Rooms 2 (the Nursery) and 3 is our new children’s outdoor play space (constructed August 2019 by Everyday Ecology). It has three main play areas: a tricycle and car-riding space with a planter in the middle, a grassy area with a natural Willow tunnel to play in, and a bridge leading to a bark area currently with bales of straw. Four redwood benches allow kids to sit and talk/watch. Plants are all native and generally low water use and include grapes, California fuschia, hummingbird sage, yarrow, Foothill penstemon, wild strawberry, coyote brush, deer grass, and black sage. An elderberry tree will eventually provide shade.

We are blessed to have 80 trees on our property, most of them mature, giving us a park-like setting. Our trees include Redwood, Incense Cedar, Live Oak, Valley Oak, Pin Oak, Zelcova, Chinese Pistache, Hackberry, Cherry, Catalina Cherry, Italian Cypress, and Crepe Myrtle.