The history of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is full of faithful, influential, pioneering women who led our people in the way of Christ’s love. As is often the case, these women go unsung in the history books and under-appreciated in the stories we tell.

Trinity’s commissioning of the St. Julian of Norwich statue by Littleton Alston aims to change that. This memorial is dedicated to the life and spirit of the women of Trinity Cathedral, personified by Julian, anchoress of St. Julian Church in Norwich, England. It calls to mind the stories of those women who have changed the lives of the people of Trinity and of the larger Omaha community throughout our history.

Situated in our Courtyard Garden outside the Cathedral, the statue is a 3’ x 4’ bronze relief sculpture of Julian of Norwich created by renowned Omaha artist Littleton Alston. The clay rendering is pictured on the left. On this webpage you may read the stories of the women whose lives and legacies are honored by this sculpture. You may also read more about the artist, Littleton Alston, and St. Julian of Norwich herself.

In Memory of…

Meliora (McPherson) Clarkson

Sarah “Sally” Johnston Marshall

Ann Louise (Brooks) Fricke

Deborah Dee (Woodcock) Melichar

Elizabeth “Libby” Ann (Davis) Lauritzen

Kimball Bowles Lauritzen

Juanita Jo Wells McCartney

In Thanksgiving for…

The life and ministry of The Rev. Deacon Ellen M. Ross

Julian wrote what is now known as Revelations of Divine Love, a guide from her visions. She is recognized as the author of the earliest surviving English-language work by a woman and the only surviving work created by an anchoress.

Years before her time, reflecting on the visions she received from God, she proclaimed: “The meaning of my visions, what God wanted us to know, is that Love was the meaning, shown by God, for love. We are to hold onto that and know love is the only key we need to have in our life.”

Jesus came to us as both female and male, capable of bestowing upon us both fatherly love and motherly love. Without wrath except on man’s side, He forgives that in us, for wrath is nothing else but perversity and opposition to peace and love. God sees us a perfect and waits for the day when human souls mature so that evil and sin will no longer hinder us and that God is nearer to us than our own soul.

God is love, and it is only if one opens oneself to this love, totally and with trust, it becomes one’s soul guide in life. All things will be transfigured, true peace and true joy will be found and radiated to the world.

Littleton Alston grew up in Washington, D.C. He and his brothers explored nearby neighborhoods and the National Mall on their bicycles, splashing through reflecting pools, eavesdropping on tours in the U.S. Capitol, and subconsciously absorbing the monumental landscape and its public art. Alston was intrigued by sculpture as a young child, and his mother, recognizing his artistic talent, took him to apply to the then-new high school Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Despite long cross-town commutes, Alston thrived and concluded his high school years by winning a senior art prize. He earned a scholarship and attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where he majored in sculpture. Alston completed an M.F.A. at the Maryland Institute College of Arts Rinehart Graduate School of Sculpture and then worked under several experi­enced sculptors. In 1989, he had a residency at the Bemis Center of Contemporary Arts in Omaha, Nebraska. In later years Alston studied in Italy and France, where he further explored the sculpt­ing practices that underpin his work in figurative representation; he also studied anatomy at the Creighton University College of Medicine.