West U Methodist 90 News

September 3, 2026

From VBS Craft to High Court Centerpiece: The Surprising Story Behind the Beaded Cross

For decades, a beautiful mixed-media handcrafted cross has hung on the stage wall in the John and Polly Collier High Court gymnasium. It might surprise many to learn that this cross is not an artist-commissioned work but was in fact designed and produced as a Vacation Bible School project!

In the late 1980s or early 1990s, VBS parent co-chairs Bonnie Clement and Candice Goodwin hoped to include a group art project that participants could work on throughout the week. The children were given an array of beads—opaque glass, copper, pewter, and brightly colored plastic—in varied shapes and sizes. As VBS week progressed, each group of children had the opportunity to select their own beads and string them onto pieces of wire to add to the cross project. Some children created meticulous patterns with the beads; others randomly picked the brightest colors or the most interesting shapes.

Look at this collection of beaded strands—each one so different from the others—and imagine a cohesive final product. Candice Goodwin asked a local artisan to weld a large frame that would serve as the border surrounding the beaded strands.

Approximately 120 hand-strung wires of beads were affixed across the post and arms of the rustic metal cross, each secured with a black glass bead and a twist of wire on the exterior of the frame. At the center of the piece, a smaller wooden cross with a hammered-copper heart was placed as a finishing touch. The final product measures an impressive 7 feet by 5.5 feet.

It was dedicated and gifted to the church and was originally hung in the stairwell leading to the upstairs education wing. When the building was redesigned and the High Court was completed in 1996, the VBS cross found its way to the stage wall, where it has served as a welcoming sight to visitors and members of all ages. The next time you visit the High Court for a worship service, community celebration, or sporting event, take a closer look and admire the creativity and love put into this original artwork!

Special thanks to:

Author, Dale Waller

Logo Designer, Kathy Meyn Chauvin

90th Anniversary Committee