History of the First Presbyterian Church Labyrinth

   First Presbyterian Church’s permanent labyrinth was completed in 2024. Bruce Wade, owner of Wadescapes Landscaping in Clinton, Tenn., provided the materials and built the labyrinth at a fraction of the cost of other landscapers who submitted bids for the project. “When Bruce heard about the labyrinth, he became very excited and wanted to make it become a reality,” said First Presbyterian Church member Tina Buckles, who served as project manager.

   The labyrinth has a diameter of 38 feet. In the center are 100-plus-year-old, handmade bricks from Allardt, Tenn., hometown of Rev. Sharon Youngs, who served as FPCOR’s pastor from 2012 until she retired in 2024. Sharon’s great grandfather built several structures in Allardt, including the house in which Sharon’s father was born and where Sharon spent her earliest years.

   Surrounding the center bricks are 6x9-inch Belgard pavers. Directly underneath the bricks and pavers are 22 tons of crushed stone and 6 tons of river sand, with another 3-inch layer of crush-and-run below that. The crush-and-run was donated, delivered, and laid by Denise and Tom Weston, who are members of New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville, Tenn., and owners of Weston Paving Company.

   Wadescapes employee Cole Judy laid each brick and paver by hand, using a design developed by Elizabeth Perryman of Black Mountain, N.C. Cole’s creativity and attention to details are evident in the final product.

  Cindy Reno (Reno Landscaping) donated her time and labor to do the original clearing and grade work for the structure.

  The labyrinth is built to the glory of God and in memory of Kay Youngs, a member of First Presbyterian Church and Sharon’s mother, who died in 2021.