A Tale of Two Cities Brings Gifts to Westport

Stations of the Cross. The men of St. Bedes align and hang their new treasures.

This is a tale of two cities (a la Dickens).

One is old and large and far away, with a lengthy history of wars, intrigues and occupations. The other is young and small and nearby — a bedroom community approximately 11 miles southeast of Cleveland off US 64.

The far away city is Cologne, located on the Rhine in Westphelie, West Germany. The nearby city is Westport, also beside water — Lake Keystone.

Cologne, started, in 50 A.D. by the Emperor Claudius l as a colony, is named for his wife. It is a heavily industrial area known for motor vehicles, metal goods, textiles, pharmaceuticals, printed materials, chocolates and a special water known as eau de cologne. The latter was probably named during one of the times when it was part of France. Its river junction crosses the route to Paris.

Westport, started in the 1960s by land developers hoping for a land rush due to the opening of Keystone Dam, has its location as its main asset. It is close to a good highway leading into metropolitan areas and it is next to the lake and beautiful rural scenery. Most of its residents commute to work.

Tying the two disparate communities together is a recent gift to St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, a mission located in Westport. The gift, 14 exquisitely sculpted and molded Stations of the Cross, originated in Cologne and found their way to St. Bede’s by the round-about way of Kansas City and Tulsa. These were taken from a badly damaged Cologne church hit by Allied bombs during World War II. The church was subsequently rebuilt, but any furnishings and artifacts salvageable were removed to make way for the new.

The Stations were discovered in a Kansas City shop by John Walton of Tulsa who bought them and kept them at his home. He also is a parishioner of Trinity Episcopal church where Father John C. Powers served as rector until his retirement. Walton recently approached Fr. Powers with the offer of the Stations and was accepted provided the vestry approved. They did.

These were recently installed on the walls of the nave by Ken Brooks and Dickey Hollis who found the job of aligning a challenge. Handmade, the locations the backs of the hangers varied.

A future date is planned for dedication of the Stations, which are depictions of Christ’s passion and agony. It is hoped that church’s benefactor, Walton, who also happens to be St. Bede’s original architect, will be able to attend, Fr. Powers said.

Scarcely visible nicks and hairline breaks betray the trauma caused by bombing, some 6O years ago. Anyone wishing to view them is welcome to visit St. Bede’s, located approximately one mile from US 64 Westport exit. An education class begins at 9:15 a.m. in Perish Hall and church service starts at 10 a.m. on Sundays.