At the entrance of the church over the west door is the Tympanum, which displays the Christian cross at the apex and the quote, “Thanks be to God for these consecrated buildings and properties received through the founders of Christ Church Cranbrook George Cough Booth and his wife Ellen Warren Scripps Booth.”
Left of the quote is the shield of Christ Church Cranbrook with wavy red lines to depict the Rouge River while on the right is the shield of the Booth family (which can be recognized by the depiction of bees).
Along the arch are the words, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
Also included are designs emblematic of Arts and Science and symbols of five of the world’s other great religions: the Prayer Wheel symbolic of Buddha, the star of David representing the Hebrew faith, the Supreme Spirit worshipped by the Native Americans, the Yang and Yin of Confucius and the Crescent and Star of Islam. This is one of the ways to show that people of all backgrounds and religions are welcome at Christ Church Cranbrook.
The tympanum was designed and given by George and Ellen Booth’s youngest son Henry.
