Approach
Consider the view as people arrive on foot and by car. The cross should have a clear place in the journey into the church, not appear as an afterthought.
Handcrafted in Martinsville, Indiana
Outdoor Church Crosses
Give an entrance, garden, prayer space, or gathering area a handcrafted focal point that feels connected to your church and the people who arrive there.
For the space beyond the sanctuary
A sign of welcome before someone steps inside.
An outdoor church cross can do more than mark a property line. It can give people a clear point of recognition as they arrive, offer a quiet place to pause, or bring a sense of purpose to a garden, courtyard, or gathering area. The best setting is not the most dramatic one. It is the place where the cross feels naturally connected to the way your church welcomes and serves people.
Mikelarc makes handcrafted wood crosses in a small Indiana workshop. The current outdoor piece is a four-and-a-half-foot weatherproof cedar cross with backlighting and remote control. Its material, scale, and light can be considered against the actual building, landscape, and approach people see every week.
A few photos and rough measurements are a useful start. They show whether the cross will stand near brick, stone, siding, landscaping, a sign, or a seating area. They also make it easier to plan for visibility, mounting, and power before a final decision is made.
Start with the approach
Choose the place before choosing the final look.
Walk the route people take from the parking area, sidewalk, or entrance. Notice where their eye lands naturally, where the building creates a backdrop, and where trees, signs, landscaping, and seasonal displays change the view. A cross needs enough open space to be recognized without asking the entire property to become a display.
Distance matters outdoors. A piece placed close to a walkway is experienced differently from one seen across a lawn or near the end of a drive. Look at the location from the direction guests approach, from gathering areas, and from the place where someone may stop to pray or take a photo. These views help a church choose a scale that feels present rather than lost against the building or landscape.
The surroundings matter too. Cedar brings natural grain and warmth, but the finished piece still needs to work beside the materials that are already lasting on the property. Brick, stone, painted siding, metal trim, and greenery can all affect contrast. A photo in normal daylight is often more helpful than a close-up sample viewed somewhere else.
Share your proposed location with MikeBefore you choose
Four details that shape a lasting outdoor cross.
Backdrop
Look at the wall, landscape, sky, or open ground behind the piece. Good contrast lets the shape read clearly through changing daylight and seasonal color.
Light
Backlighting can add definition in the evening. Plan it as a calm accent that helps the cross remain recognizable, not as the brightest feature on the grounds.
Installation
Confirm the mounting location, finished height, weather exposure, power path, and the people responsible for the work before the cross arrives.
A thoughtful first plan
Let the grounds tell you what the cross needs to do.
Outdoor placement works best when the cross has one clear role. It may welcome people at the entrance, give a memorial garden a meaningful center, stand near an outdoor prayer area, or bring definition to a church gathering space. Naming that role helps a team make better decisions about where it belongs and how it should be seen.
Keep the setting practical as well as meaningful. A cross placed near a front entrance should not crowd a door, sign, ramp, or route people use every day. A garden-based location should leave room for upkeep and seasonal planting. A piece near a seating area should remain visible without taking over the place where people gather. These simple checks protect the finished setting long after installation day.
Lighting should support the same purpose. The current outdoor Mikelarc cross includes backlighting and a remote control, which gives a church the option to add gentle definition as daylight fades. Before ordering, look at the proposed setting in the morning, late afternoon, and evening. Think about nearby exterior lights, windows, signs, and the normal activity around the building. A small adjustment to the location or light level can make the cross feel calm and clear instead of visually crowded.
It is also worth planning beyond the first season. Trees leaf out, flowers change, holiday displays come and go, and a church property often develops over time. A good location gives the cross enough surrounding space to remain easy to recognize when the grounds are fuller than usual. It should feel at home in an ordinary week, not only during a special event.
Installation belongs in the same early conversation. Bring together the mounting surface, expected height, weather exposure, power location, and the person who will handle the work. For electrical connections, high work, or an unfamiliar surface, a qualified local professional can help the church choose a sensible approach. Early coordination keeps the final installation from becoming a rushed problem after the cross is ready.
The goal is a place that feels settled. When people see the cross from the entrance, a sidewalk, the parking area, or a nearby gathering space, it should read as a clear part of the church's welcome. A direct conversation with the maker gives your team a practical way to start with the real location and make the details work together.
Consider who will experience the space at different times. A weekday visitor may see the cross while the grounds are quiet. A family arriving for a service may notice it from the parking area. A small group may use the same spot for prayer, a memorial, or a seasonal gathering. Looking at those moments together keeps the decision rooted in the people and habits that give the property its meaning, rather than treating the cross as a standalone object.
A simple photo plan can help everyone agree before the work begins. Take one view from the approach, one from the intended gathering area, and one close to the mounting location. Mark the approximate height and placement on the image, then compare it with the surroundings. That gives church leaders, facilities volunteers, and anyone helping with the decision a shared picture of what the finished setting needs to accomplish.
A direct line to the workshop
Bring the location into the conversation.
You do not need a finished site plan to begin. A few photos, an approximate measurement, and a note about how people use the area can make the first conversation much more useful. Mike can help you think through the visible details before you commit to a current piece.
The current four-and-a-half-foot outdoor cedar cross is a useful place to see the material, scale, and lighting details in full. If your church is choosing for both indoor and outdoor spaces, browsing the wider collection can help your team compare what belongs where.
“The quality was excellent and the attention to detail was outstanding. The backlighting was beautiful on our wall.”Jim, church customer
A clear next step
Start with a photo of the place you have in mind.
Share the entrance, garden, wall, or gathering area, along with the rough dimensions you have and when people will most often see it. Mike can help you begin with the details that make an outdoor church cross feel right for the grounds.
Outdoor cross questions
Frequently asked questions
Where can an outdoor church cross be placed?+
A cross can create a meaningful focal point near an entrance, garden, prayer area, courtyard, gathering space, or another outdoor setting where people naturally pause. The best location is one that is visible without interrupting walkways, signs, doors, or the daily use of the property.
What should we consider before choosing the size?+
Start with the view from the approach, the distance from the building or gathering area, and the open space around the proposed location. Marking out the approximate size or holding up a simple outline can help a church see whether the cross will read clearly from the places people arrive and gather.
Is there a current Mikelarc cross made for outdoor use?+
Yes. Mikelarc currently offers a four-and-a-half-foot weatherproof cedar cross with backlighting and a remote control. Check the individual listing for the current item details, or contact Mike before ordering if you want to discuss your location first.
How should we plan for lighting and installation?+
Think through the mounting surface, finished height, power location, weather exposure, and the route people use around the cross before ordering. For outdoor electrical work, high work, or a mounting surface you do not know well, involve a qualified local professional.
Can we talk through the location before we buy?+
Yes. A few photos of the proposed location, a rough measurement, and a note about how the space is used are enough to begin. Mike can help you consider the cross in the context of the actual church grounds rather than a product image alone.