Walking 'The Pilgrim's Way'

by Emily McDonald
South East Correspondent
A Christian's life from birth to death was celebrated at the dedication and blessing of the Pilgrims' Way at St. Francis of Assisi in Ooltewah.
The Pilgrim's Way takes it name from Psalm 84: 4: "Happy are the people whose strength is in you! whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way.'' It features a walkway from the church down to Varnell Creek, a baptismal font and gardens for the scattering or burial of ashes. A stone retaining wall along most of the walkway invites walkers to sit and enjoy the beauty of the setting.

The Rt. Rev. Charles vonRosenberg, bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee, was the celebrant for the outdoor service attended by about 100 people. The Rev. Buckley Robbins, St. Francis’ vicar, and the Rev. Lou Garcia, Chattanooga’s metropolitan minister, assisted.

It was a unique service and experiential worship at its best, the bishop said. "We rededicated a font and baptized somebody in it, we dedicated a burial ground and buried somebody in it and we finished with the Eucharist outdoors.

"We walked the Pilgrims' Way today and the beginning of new lives in Him with baptism through death,'' he said.

The service began with a procession to Bishop Tharp Spring, which is named in honor of the Rt. Rev. Robert Tharp, who was diocesan bishop during St. Francis' early years as a mission.

And the font beside the spring was originally given to St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church by Mrs. George Patten on behalf of her children, Margaret and Zeboim, to honor their nurse Wylie May Byers Richards.

The font was used at St. Mary's until the church merged with Thankful Memorial in 1995. Later, two St. Francis members, Bill Barger and Chuck Nix, were asked if they knew anyone who could use the font and they accepted it on behalf of their church.

Margaret Patten Smith, Mr. Patten and two members of the Thankful Memorial vestry, Blondell Talley and Nancy Worland, presented the font. Then it was used for the baptism of Rae Olson.

"It has been very memorable,'' Miss Olson said. "It is something I have wanted to do and finally got it done. I won't forget it."

After the baptism the procession wound its way back up to the gardens beside the wall for the internment of the ashes of Lloyd D. Reid, who died in 1995. As the ashes were committed, the church bell tolled.

The service concluded with the Eucharist and was followed by a reception.