The Saint David of Wales Sculpture and
The New Saint David’s Doors Emerge on The Island
Completing the Saint David’s Episcopal Renovation
on San Juan Island
Patron Saint of Saint David’s Church
By Marilyn Luckman
"A Bit of History" -
Judge and Mrs. George Mosely commissioned Bruce Collman, Lopez Island woodcarver, the first sculptor to create a carving for the Episcopal Church in Friday Harbor in memory of their son. Father Edward Leche, the rector of Saint David’s at that time, and the Vestry approved the commission. Father Leche agreed to pose for photographs showing how the folds of the garment would fall when hands are raised in blessing.
An Alaskan yellow cedar log was bought from Otto Kjargaard of Lopez Island, who had found it in a kelp bed at Iceberg Point.
Originally, the figure was painted, faithfully following the vestments’ design and colors. At that time it was proposed that the figure would be commemorative of the crucifixion.
The late Mr. Scripps (of Scripps Institute) and the late Mr. Ray Spencer (of Spencer Spit) were among those who brought visitors to the studio where the carving was being created on Lopez. Volunteers brought the carving and the cross to Friday Harbor on flatbed trucks.
Saint David’s Church in Friday Harbor is named after the Patron Saint David of Wales, born in 601. Saint David founded over a dozen monasteries and many miracles have been attributed to him. His figure often includes a dove and is shown standing on a small hill. Leek and daffodil have also been associated with him as metaphors within the community. This design motif has been carved on the St. David vestment and reworked with a patina that emphasizes these metaphors of St. David. Stewart Luckman, the project sculptor, is professor emeritus from Bethel University, St. Paul Minnesota and a resident of San Juan Island and a member of St. David’s parish.
Stewart Luckman, well over six feet tall himself, related immediately to St. David from the beginning, as people began to discuss possible transformative options for the original figure.David is said to have been about six feet tall, too, and very strong. He never shirked physical labor. Though he lived mainly on water, vegetables, and herbs, he was capable of pulling a plough like an ox. He chose to live a simple life, dedicated to Christ, with an emphasis on community, rather than asceticism.
Even as David lay dying, he reminded the people gathered around him that they were to follow his example, to care for one another in "the little things!" As Patrick Thomas points out in a discussion of David’s influence, "In any community apparently insignificant acts of habitual kindness and self-forgetfulness which display a fundamental respect and love for others can generate stability, unity and wholeness" (p.128).
Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, has called upon us to be mindful of the small, hidden acts that weave together our human community. He leads us to tend to our neighbors’ needs out of deep gratitude for all that we have been given. Community is Saint David’s Episcopal Church’s commitment.
The spirit of Saint David’s Episcopal Church, San Juan Island, both in the original interpretation and now in the re-carving and the new interpretation of the figure as Saint David, calls all of us to tend to the little things. Saint David calls us to seek gentle and constant awareness of the needs of others so that we might act in small ways that build up community in Christ. In the Celtic Christian prayer tradition, attention is given to each aspect of our daily interaction as a potential encounter with the living God.
The sculpture is presently being re-carved and returned to the original state of the driftwood log found off Iceberg Point in a Kelp bed on Lopez Island. The figure you see here today is in process, as is the church building.
Stewart Luckman, San Juan Island Sculptor and Professor Emeritus, has been carving the ceremonial sculpture for the past six months and has designed the commemorative doors as well for the entrance to the church.
Duane Hagerty, a gifted artist of Marrowstone Island (Port Townsend), collaborated with Stewart in the building of the doors. Duane and Stewart selected a green material for the doors, which would complement the mission door design selected. St. David’s Rector, Nancy Tiederman, Project Architect, Richard Hobbs, and the St. David’s Design Team confirmed the design concepts for the commemorative doors and the re-interpretation of the St. David sculpture.
Stewart Luckman and Duane Hagerty will be installing the commemorative doors on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 4 and 5. St. David’s Day is the first of March. On this day it has been the tradition to wear a daffodil. A clump of daffodils emerged from the transported dirt, just in time for this wonderful sculpture dedication and commemorative installation.
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