Church to Bear a Special Cross : Northridge: Regional United Methodist official uses his woodcarving skills to craft a pattern onto the 20-foot-tall centerpiece symbol for a new sanctuary.

It is no surprise that the Northridge United Methodist Church, which hopes to open its $2.3-million sanctuary by December, is saving money with volunteer labor by members. But it is unusual for a top church official to put in hours of free time carving intricate designs into a tall wooden cross for the new building.

The Rev. Donald Locher, district superintendent for 62 United Methodist churches from the San Fernando Valley to Santa Barbara County, completed the work only days before the 20-foot-tall oak cross was raised into place above the altar this week. Locher, 62, a woodcarving hobbyist, said he has carved wooden crosses of various designs for Christmas gifts for 40 years. Ministers in the district receive a new cross from him each December. Other decorative woodcarvings fill his office and home in Chatsworth.

But this project “is far beyond in size anything I’ve ever attempted before,” said Locher, formerly the pastor of Glendale United Methodist Church.

He said that last year he told the church architect, Lou Dominy of San Diego, that he would “like a chance” to craft a pattern on the centerpiece cross in the 500-seat sanctuary. Locher suggested carving his favorite design, the Jerusalem cross--one large cross with smaller crosses in each quadrant.

“I thought it would be a four- to five-foot-cross, but the architect told me Aug. 1 that it would be a 20-foot oak cross,” Locher said.

In all, Locher carved 50 Jerusalem crosses on the large cross, each drawn, routed and carved by hand. The architect and church leaders were so impressed with his work that he was asked to carve more Jerusalem crosses on the lectern, pulpit and altar.

Rising 45 feet, the new building sits close to Reseda Boulevard, giving the church greater visibility to the community. The old sanctuary is located in the back of an L-shaped lot near Cal State Northridge.

The Rev. David L. Richardson, pastor of the 600-member congregation, said the church has scheduled a consecration service for Dec. 8.