White Chapel’s stunning
Memorial Gardens continue to garner national admiration.
The consummation of years of focused planning
and vigorous development, they are simply unparalleled
in scope and detail. Be it a sense of awe, of
serenity, or of joy, people who experience these
beautiful and inspiring settings can’t help
but feel a positive emotional response.
The very first gardens that one sees when entering
White Chapel are the original block gardens envisioned
by our founder, Clarence Sanger. A splendid eighty-acre
floral display, these gardens are nestled in the
heart of White Chapel’s Park. They provide
a breathtaking and colorful counterpoint to the
wide main boulevard they embrace, stretching from
the main gate to the majestic Temple of Memories.
White Chapel also features a highly-acclaimed
series of gardens which, together, present a botanical
history of the Christian faith. Spanning over
120 acres, each of these twenty-five lovely garden
settings offers its own distinctive statuary in
marble or bronze. They include:
The Garden of the Prophets
“And the Lord God
planted a garden eastward in Eden.” Genesis
2:8
This beautiful garden has as its central feature
the three prophets - David, the Psalmist; Jeremiah,
who foresaw the coming of the Messiah; and Isaiah,
who foretold the Passion and Crucifixion of the
Lord. These sculpted figures convey the significance
of the words -
“In Him was life; and the life was the light
of men.” John 1:4.
The Garden of the Messiah
“Come unto me, all
ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 The
bronze sculpture in this peaceful garden depicts
Christ with arms outstretched, speaking the compassionate
words of Matthew 11:28. It reflects the immortality
expressed in Christian faith - “I am the
resurrection and the life, whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die.”
The Garden of the Memorial Cross
“Verily I say unto
thee, today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:43
This is the garden of the symbol of Christianity
and supreme sacrifice. It reminds the visitor
that within this quiet garden the crosses of our
loved ones have been eased from their shoulders.
Its serene beauty suggests the words of Luke 23:43
– “Verily, I say on to thee, today
shalt thou be with me in Paradise.”
The Garden of the Resurrection
“And lo, I am with
you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen.”
Matthew 28:20
This magnificent bronze tableau portrays the disciples
gazing heavenward, and the exalted passage from
Matthew 28:20. It inspires the conviction that
all who rest here look forward to their day of
Easter, and we too are led, as were the disciples
“as far as Bethany.”
The Garden of the Apostles
“Thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church.”
Matthew 16:18
The line from Matthew 16:18 suggest the inspiration
for the Garden of the Apostles. Peter, the rock,
a sure and steadfast foundation; Paul, the light
of the Gentiles; and St. John the Divine who visions
the “Throne of God and a new heaven and
a new earth.”
The Garden of the Victorious
Faith
“This is the victory
that overcometh the world, even our Faith.”
1 John 5:4
Slowly but surely the Faith moves forward –
fortified with the law of true New Testament scripture,
the creeds, and the development of the ministry.
Christian fellowship begins to take hold of the
lives of thousands; the gospel of Jesus Christ
attains its victory.
Francis of Assisi, The Garden
of Love
“Love the Lord thy
God, love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matthew
23:37 & 39
Francis of Assisi, sculptured in bronze, stands
in the Garden of Love, fulfilling the commandment
– “Love the Lord thy God, love thy
neighbor as thyself.” This tender scene,
showing Francis of Assisi cradling a fawn in his
arms while the mother looks up trustingly, typifies
the spirit of God descended among men.
The Garden of the
Reformation
“Return, we beseech
thee, O God of hosts look down from heaven, and
behold, and visit this vine.” Psalm 80:14
The Garden of the Reformation affirms the mighty
truth that though there are divisions among mankind,
there is but one Lord and one Faith.
The Garden of Religious Liberty
“Now the Lord is
that spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty.”
2 Cor. 3:17
This garden is dedicated to a great American heritage…and
to the many who fought and died to escape persecution
and attain religious liberty. It is a reminder
that here in America, men could live and worship
as the spirit moved them, and start life anew.
The Garden of Religious Awakening
“Awake, Awake, put
on strength, O arm of the Lord.” Isaiah
51:9
The superb sculpture in the Garden of Religious
Awakening commemorates the resurgence of spiritual
and moral force in the early 18th century. After
years of declining influence, the church once
again was making an impact in neglected areas,
preaching Christ to crowds numbering thousands.
The Garden of the Spread of the
Gospel
“Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:15
The 19th century ushered in a tremendous surge
for the spread of the gospel. Bands of heroic
and self-sacrificing men and women labored in
Christ’s name, cheerfully accepting virtual
permanent exile, enduring incredible hardship,
suffering and martyrdom to preach the gospel to
every creature.
The Garden of Brotherhood
The story of the Christian Faith has no end.
We look forward to the time when Christendom becomes
one great body, when the brotherhood of man, under
the guiding power of the Holy Spirit, becomes
a reality. This beautiful garden symbolizes the
unceasing search for brotherhood through twenty
centuries of history.
The Garden of Meditation
“Let the words of
my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable
in thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14
Here tranquil beauty invites meditation, and reflection.
In the still waters of a silver pool, the figure
of a boy is mirrored, eyes looking into infinity.
Here indeed may the soul find solace, and the
heart be comforted. The Garden of Meditation extends
its timeless beauty like a benediction.
The Garden of Spring
“For of such is the
kingdom of heaven…” Matthew 19:14
Jesus’ words in the book of Matthew reminds
us of His care and love for children. And here
in White Chapel’s Garden of Spring, one
finds a special place where the young are memorialized:
A reminder of the purity and innocence of childhood.
The Garden of Psalms
“Lord, who shall
abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy
holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh
righteousness, And speaketh the truth in his heart.”
Psalms 15:1-5
The statue of David with his lyre symbolizes the
immortal poetry of the Book of Psalms …
the outpouring of the human soul down through
the ages, in a fervent expression that has no
equal in the annals of literature. Their poetic
splendor mirrors every emotion within the soul’s
communion with God.
The Garden of Commandments
“And Moses said unto
the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove
you, and that his fear may be before your faces,
that ye sin not.” Exodus 20:20
In the Book of Exodus, Moses is pictured as a
man of tremendous moral strength noble of mind,
deeply committed to the will of God, and entirely
devoted to the welfare of his people. The Garden
of Commandments extols the stirring leader and
the covenant of the Lord—the Ten Commandments
that are the bedrock of religious faith.
The Garden of the Last Supper
“And He took bread
and gave thanks and brake it, and gave unto them
saying, This is my body which is given for you:
this do in remembrance of me. This cup is the
new testament in my blood which is shed for you.”
Luke 22:19-20
When you view this marble sculpture you will feel
again the tremendous impact of the Passion and
Resurrection-“And He took bread and gave
thanks and broke it, and gave it unto them saying,
This is my body which is given for you: this do
in remembrance of me.”
The Garden of the Good Samaritan
“Which was neighbor
unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said,
He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto
him, Go and do thou likewise.” Luke 10:36-37
The imposing marble sculpture in the Garden of
the Good Samaritan depicts the parable of he who
gave succor to the man set upon by thieves when
others had passed him by. A noble inspiration
for a gracious garden.
The Companion Garden of Memories
“I remember the days
of old; I meditate on all thy works.” Psalms
143:5
This exquisitely wrought sculpture depicts the
poetry of Robert Burns: “Now we maun totter
down, John, And hand in hand we’ll go, And
sleep together at the foot, John Anderson, my
Jo.” It expresses the tenderness and compassion
of two people who have spent a lifetime together
and found fulfillment.
The Garden of Gethsemane
“And they came to
a place which was named Gethsemane; and he saith
to his disciples. Sit ye here, while I shall pray.”
Mark 14:32
These words from The Passion and the Resurrection
set the mood for Bernard Zuckermann’s magnificent
sculpture in the Garden of Gethsemane. The heroic
figure of Christ kneels with hands clasped, head
lifted in prayer, surrounded by the sleeping disciples.
Surely there is no more inspired tableau in all
of White Chapel’s memorial gardens.
The Garden of Prayer
The powerful and inspiring sculpture by Arthur
Schneider symbolizes the solace and comfort of
prayer. It depicts a man standing on a rock, hands
clasped and head turned skyward. The effect is
not that of a figure chained to earth, but rather
the suggestion of a man’s spirit soaring.
It helps make the Garden of Prayer an emotionally
uplifting experience.
The Garden of the Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd;
the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11
One of the most compelling of religious themes
and a source of comfort down through the ages,
the Good Shepherd stands amid the peace of nature.
Shining under a summer sun or capped with snow,
the statuary is a constant reminder that, as Paul
wrote the Christians in Corinth, “our sufficiency
is of God.”
The Garden of the Beatitudes
“And seeing the multitudes,
He went up into a mountain: and when He was set,
His disciples came unto Him.” Matthew 5:1
Here are symbolized those whom Jesus blessed in
His Sermon on the Mount—the meek and the
merciful, the poor in spirit and the lowly, the
pure in heart and the peacemakers. Resting amid
the leaf-shadowed lawns and supreme quiet of nature,
one is reminded of His words, “Blessed are
they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
The Garden of Peace
“Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you.” John 14:27
These words of comfort from our Lord, spoken during
His last hours, are the obvious source of inspiration
for the superbly designed Garden of Peace. With
its dense greenery and the gentle sounds of nature,
a walk through this tranquil garden reminds us
that our loved ones are truly at peace.
The Garden of Hope
“It is good that
a man should both hope and quietly wait for the
salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:26
The spirit of this passage can be felt throughout
this magnificent garden. Surrounded by stately
elms and emerald green lawns, one cannot help
but walk through the Garden of Hope with a renewed
sense of strength, remembering the words of the
23rd Psalm—“The Lord is my shepherd…He
maketh me to lie down in the green pastures…”
The Garden of Togetherness
“And they shall be
one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
Cherished thoughts of the past and a hope for
the future are beautifully inspired in this quiet
garden setting. With sculptures dramatically portraying
the ideals of faith, devotion and constancy, the
Garden of Togetherness is truly a place for rest,
reflection and memory.
