Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital’s serene meditation garden offers healing in nature
by Joan Perry | Contributing Writer
The West Ashley Wanderer can’t wander all the time. What better place to pause than West Ashley’s best-kept secret, the Meditation Garden in front of Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital?
I was meeting my dealer, my sweetgrass basket dealer and former hospital employee – Sandra LeSueur, in the west parking lot by the Blessing Box to pick up a basket as a gift for my sister in Alberta, and detoured as I did for many years while working there. I walked right through the mysterious split oak tree into the winding and welcoming garden paths. The canopy of trees shelter the hospital buildings from highway traffic on Paul Cantrell Boulevard.
A solitary lady was walking through the circular Labyrinth looking at her feet as if trying to figure out the purpose of the path.
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful hospital, and this garden is incredible.”
Mary McElmurray had driven from Edisto to keep a friend company during medical testing and wandered over, finding the garden by happy accident.
That was exactly what Allen Carroll, former hospital CEO had hoped for. He imagined that patients, caregivers and staff might find the garden a place of peace and renewal. He worked to preserve as many of the live oaks as possible, and along with Sanford Byers of Byers Design Group, LLC, they designed what was to become a Cathedral under the Oaks. The layout was inspired by the idea of a natural cathedral composed of sanctuaries, including the Prayer Garden, a Camellia Garden, the Labyrinth, and the Christ Statue garden all connected by nature pathways and entry portals .
Hospitals can be places of stress, worry and grief, and it was thought that a place of refuge and healing might be welcome. The Christ statue is the work of artist Tim Doyle whose work includes many carvings in significant public and private settings, including the Washington National Cathedral and the West Point Military Academy main gate.
Our West Ashley Labyrinth is listed on the World Wide Labyrinth Locator site and sought by people using it for walking meditation. It is modeled after the one found in the floor of Chartres Cathedral of Notre Dame near Paris. Labyrinths are designed for meditative walking to explore personal and spiritual matters. We are encouraged to enter humbly, with an open heart, and be mindful of the beauty around us.
Mark Dickson, Vice President of Mission for Roper St. Francis Healthcare, has affectionate memories and a sentimental spot in his heart for the Sisters who founded and played a leading role in healthcare in Charleston. His voice is warm as he rhymes off the names of the Sisters.
“I have always been proud and honored that our Meditation Garden is dedicated to both the founding Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy and also the current sponsor connection with the Sisters of Bon Secours,” he said. “Women Religious built healthcare in America and throughout the world. We honor their love and legacy with this idyllic setting for the community’s reflection and enjoyment.”
The hospital has a long local history. The doors to St. Francis Xavier Infirmary opened in 1882 on the Charleston peninsula and relocated to the West Ashley location in 1996. I loved the spot before the formal garden opened in 2010 and still can’t resist pausing to take yet another picture of the majestic oaks and portal doors in different lights, in early morning fog and even rare snow.
Vines now cover the once white portals and some plants are overgrown. The maturing camellias should be a treat this year. A few picnic tables have been added and all are welcome to respectfully enjoy the garden.
Stay healthy, my friends. Wave at me as I wander through West Ashley. Send suggestions for upcoming columns to: westashleywanderer@gmail.com.
