The Cross

- symbolism without a symbol

We usually think of a 'cross' as simply two intersecting beams, but in fact there are many different designs. And some crosses have no particular design at all. This page introduces some of those crosses.

St John's Cross

St. John's Cross

Some crosses are associated with more than one design with the same name, such as the St. John's Cross.

On this website, we've taken what we understand to be the most common design for a particular cross name, and created a separate page to describe each one. (See list of cross names and cross images.)

Calvary Cross

Many cross designs have more than one name, like the Calvary Cross, which is also known as Stepped Cross, Altar Cross or Peronnee Cross. (This particular design is further confusing with two more alternative names - the Graded Cross and the opposite: Degraded Cross.)

Conversely, some named crosses have no common design, such as:

• Burial Cross
• Butter Cross
• Churchyard Cross
• Disciple's Cross
• Divine Cross
• Forgiveness Cross
• Grace Cross
• Heraldic Cross
• Holy Cross

• Hope Cross
• Market Cross
• Mercy Cross
• Prayer Cross
• Relic Cross
• Rest in Peace (R.I.P) Cross
• Sanctuary Cross
• True Cross