ABOVE: The new Community Prayer Garden at Fairmont United Methodist Church is adorned with plants and biblical themes. The garden welcomes all members of the community to pray, meditate, self-reflect and more.

FAIRMONT — At Fairmont United Methodist Church, one might notice an array of plants complementing the exterior. In addition, inside the church’s courtyard, one can find the newly introduced Community Prayer Garden.

“The [garden] is more outward facing. We always had in mind that it was deliberately set up to be for the community,” said Pastor Jeff Adams. “But ever since the Education Building was built in ’77, when it was built and joined up against the old building, the green space was created, the courtyard. It’s gone through many phases since then. When I got here about five years ago, it wasn’t really being used for much of anything, so I had this notion that it could become a prayer garden.”

Adams formed the idea for the Community Prayer Garden and said that while it had been in development for five years, significant progress began two years ago thanks to a group of horticulturists who have helped arrange the garden and plan to oversee upkeep.

The Community Prayer Garden was officially blessed and dedicated three weeks ago during a service at Fairmont United Methodist Church, and aims to provide an atmosphere for praying, meditation, reflection, peace and renewal.

As visitors explore the Community Prayer Garden, they can follow a guide. The guide includes various scripture readings, reflections, meditation prompts, self-questions and prayer as visitors explore eleven stations with biblical themes and a corresponding assortment of plants, including peonies, iris, cranebills, millennium and porcelain. There are also seating areas and open room titles shaped like a cross leading to the Resurrection Garden and more.

“When I saw [the courtyard], what I saw was an opportunity to do something that hadn’t been done and that was new. It’s just, ‘Hey, let’s try something different, ‘ and use it as an opportunity to connect with the community,” said Adams. “Given it’s a church setting, we hope that it’s an opportunity to really connect with God in a new and interesting way. It’s our belief that man was originally intended to live in a garden.”

Now that the Community Prayer Garden is complete and available, Fairmont United Methodist Church is happy to see it come to life and for people to view the garden.

“One of the things I notice is that several of our people have gone through it and used it in its intended way. People have stopped to breathe some fresh air. What I see the most is people just stopping at those windows to stop and take a look and enjoy it in that way. That’s what we’re hoping for, just a chance to stop and see some of God’s beauty and then appreciate it for that,” Adams said.

Fairmont United Methodist Church is located at 119 East 2nd Street in Fairmont. The church requests that visitors check in before going to the garden, available from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Mondays to Fridays. Garden visit appointments outside regular hours can be scheduled. For additional information about Fairmont United Methodist Church, visit umcfairmont.org.