Look What I Found!

Two days ago, I went in search of the famous Elgin Cathedral and found Elgin’s best kept secret! I found one of the few Biblical Gardens in Europe! I had not known about the garden prior to that day so imagine my surprise! Yes I was screaming (inside) when I found it.

Interestingly, even though the garden is only officially open to the public between May and September, I found the gates opened and was able to spend a few precious minutes there! Awesome right? Another God-incidence in a month filled with pleasant surprises.

So, the Biblical garden in Elgin was planted in order to bring the Bible to life through plants, sculptures, bible passages and other depictions of notable events in the Bible. One hundred and ten plants mentioned in the Bible are planted here! The cross is at the centre of this three-acre garden which also contains many different sculptures including Jesus at the well (a real well), Sampson, Jesus as the good shepherd, Moses receiving the Ten Commandments, the prodigal son, and many others.

Jesus at the well

The most amazing thing to me is the age of the garden. Planted beside the ruins of the approximately 800-year old Elgin cathedral, the Biblical garden is only 20 years old. This contrast between the old and the new is soul-stirring to me. The old cathedral represents a generation when Christianity played a major role in the lives of the people in Elgin, Scotland and most of Europe. I believe the new garden tells us that the word of God is still evergreen, relevant and alive today.

It is also amazing that the idea of the Elgin garden was not conceived by the church but by the city council. Only twenty years ago, the city council, community, local businesses, schools, and church came together to raise funds and plant this amazing garden centred on the truth of the Gospel. Incredible, right?

This fills me with hope; in this generation where many have turned away from God, God is still able to use people to spread the truth of the Gospel in ingenious ways.

Dorothy Frances Gurney wrote that “One is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.” This may be true because gardens are mentioned numerous times in the Bible; for example God planted the first garden in Eden and put man in it; Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane; and immediately after His resurrection, Jesus was even mistaken as a gardener by Mary Magdalene.

Somehow I believe that even though the cathedrals of old are now in ruins and the old church buildings are being converted for other uses, around us, biblical gardens are being planted on the earth and in the hearts of men. After all, the Bible refers to the hearts of men as soil in which the Lord plants His word (Matthew 13:1-23). The word of God is alive in the hearts of men today.

I can’t wait to see the garden in Spring, Summer, and my favourite season Autumn!

For better pictures and more information about the Biblical garden, please see www.biblicalgardenelgin.co.uk

Pictures: First two are author's pictures, third picture is from https://britishheritage.com/elgin-and-its-biblical-garden/