Eden commissions processional cross

A committee of the faculty has commissioned a processional cross for the Seminary chapel, to be created by Missouri artist Wayne Trinklein. Trinklein specializes in creating small-scale trees and is designing a “tree of life” cross in keeping with Eden’s name and its longstanding use of a budded cross in Seminary documents. 

“There has been a need for a new cross in the chapel for years,” said chapel coordinator Christopher Grundy, “ever since we began celebrating Holy Communion at a smaller table in the nave of the chapel, rather than in the chancel.” 

A generous gift from Northfield Community Church (UCC) in Northfield, Illinois made the current project possible.

The committee’s choice of a processional cross rather than a table cross was deliberate, allowing for use of the cross to be more flexible. It can be used in processions and placed at different locations in the room, depending on the arrangement of the room and the choices of the particular campus group leading chapel.

Plans are underway to dedicate the new cross at the annual All Saints Day service, which will be held this year on Monday, November 2. The artist has graciously agreed to be present for the event, to meet members of the community and answer questions.