In fact, the Chartres labyrinth was covered over and only recently uncovered. There has been a renewal of interest in labyrinths. In the United States, one leader of this revival has been the Rev. Lauren Artress of Grace Cathedral of San Francisco. In 1991, she revived the use of the labyrinth using the Chartes labyrinth at the rear of the cathedral's nave. Then, in 1995 an outside labyrinth was added near the entrace to the cathedral.
Labyrinths come in a variety of forms.
Many such as the two at Crace Cathedral are permanent. Others such as the one which we have here at St. Paul's are temporary in that the labyrinth is painted on canvas that can be laid out for special occasions. Many labyrinths are constructed outside using rocks or plantings to mark out the path. The labyrinth is a single path providing a route from the outside of the circle to its center. Unlike the maze, it is single path with no detours or dead ends.