A Spiritual BeaconBy Amy Elbert (she/her)A bitterly cold and snowy day more than40 years ago, Jay Eaton was first struckby an intricately carved monogrammounted on the chancel cross in thePlymouth Church sanctuary. Thatdelicate yet powerful symbol, called theChi Rho, became a spiritual beacon forEaton and, years later, compelled him tobe part of its restoration.“Kathy and I were new members andwere among only a handful of others whocame to church that Sunday morning,”Eaton recalls. “Rev. Jim Gillion invitedour small group, parkas, and wet bootsand all, forward into the pews of thesmall east choir loft for an informal,intimate service.”Pieces of the nearly 100-year-old carvedsymbol broke off the cross but the driedglue preserved its outline.The illustrations in this story areby Plymouth member and retiredarchitect Scott Stouffer. Scan theQR Code for a closer look.20This was prior to a 1988 chancel remodeland the choir seating was arranged withpews facing each other on the east andwest sides of the chancel, providing anunobstructed and close-up view of thecross and decorative panels that enhancePlymouth’s English Gothic-style chancel.As the Eaton family attended Plymouthover the years and Jay sang with theChancel Choir, the symbol continuedto speak to him. “This Chi-Rho symbolseemed to me a sacred beacon everySunday morning for many years as aChancel Choir member. And it remainsso today.”The Greek letters Chi (X) and Rho (P)are the first two letters for Christ in theGreek alphabet. Superimposed they formthe Chi-Rho symbol, which throughoutcenturies has represented Christian faith,hope, and love.This symbol, as well as the 14 shield-likereredos (pronounced rer-das from theMiddle French arrere for behind and dosfor back), adorn the oak panels acrossthe back of the chancel. The decorativescreen and symbols were in place whenthe present Plymouth building wasdedicated on November 20, 1927.“One hundred years dried out thissymbol and cracked and broke it off thecross,” Eaton says. “Yet the glue that onceheld it preserved its outline, such that inmy mind its presence remained—untillast year.”Eaton was on the Plymouth Buildingand Grounds Committee when therewas discussion about how to deal withthe damage. “Some folks had beendiscussing removal of the old glue residueand sanding and staining that area toblend it into the rest of the cross. I ama woodworker and was asked whether Icould do that,” he says. “I suggested werestore the symbol and offered to do so.”Restoration was tricky, however, becauseonly one piece, a leg of the Chi (X), hadbeen salvaged. Dan Mowry, Plymouth’sFacilities Manager, scoured the church
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