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Many hands and perhaps thousands of hours have gone into creating the beautiful, warm religious wood carvings at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

The carvings throughout the church especially catch one's eye upon entering the sanctuary.

There are beautiful wood carvings on the pulpit, figures on the alter rails, symbols on pew ends and in front of pews as well as the baptismal font.

Ben Wilson, 91, of Greensboro is probably the only wood carver left from a group of about 50 carvers from the early 1950s and 1960s who worked countless hours to produce beautiful carvings throughout Holy Trinity.

"Ben Wilson is one of those fascinating people whose talents are many," noted Rose Woods, pastoral care coordinator at Holy Trinity, who has known Wilson for many years and has great admiration for him and his talents.

"He, along with many other men and women of Holy Trinity, created these wood carving masterpieces during the mid 20th century," Wood said. "They have enriched and profoundly blessed our worship life at Holy Trinity."

Wilson's first carving was a 7-inch cross from a 150-year-old piece of black walnut.

A member of Holy Trinity since 1952, he feels that this cross, in its simplicity and strength, is one of his finest carvings. The cross hangs on the north side of the narthex.

Sidney Paine, a well-known master carver and an early executive with Cone Mills, was a mentor, encourager and teacher for Wilson. Paine was a prolific artist who created many beautiful wood carvings for Holy Trinity and other area churches, Wilson said.

When Paine stopped carving at age 85, he gave Wilson all of his fine, English Sheffield steel carving tools.

"For some reason, Sydney Paine chose me to carry on the process of training new carvers," Wilson said. "At one time, I had a group of three ladies and one man as students, who were working on carving the communion railing for the front of the church."

Wilson and the carvers he taught met and worked in his basement wood shop. "We had a great time talking and laughing while we worked," Wilson recalled.

"It was very satisfying to share these skills with others who wanted to learn and were dedicated to creating something lovely and worthwhile," he said.

"Carving is a fully engrossing, meditative process," he said. "It is very rewarding and satisfying to see something come into being under your own hands, over time."

Some of the art pieces Wilson carved for Holy Trinity include profiles of the Rev. John Broome and Bishop Estill, which hang in the narthex of the church.

Other carvings Wilson points to with pride include a dove and a bishop symbolizing confirmation; a chalice, wheat for bread, and grapes for wine, representing the Eucharist; and two hands joined together, symbolizing the sacrament of marriage.

"The hands represent those of my wife Kay and me," Wilson said. "We were married for more than 50 years before she died in 1999."

He also carved two of the large screens that cover the organ pipes.

Wilson said this was a major project for the carvers of the church and required several years to complete.

"Ben's carvings are exquisite and contribute to the meditative quality of people's lives," said Holy Trinity rector, the Rev. Timothy Patterson. "We are deeply grateful to him and to the entire community of carvers from the 1950s and 1960s for their contributions to our church."

Wilson was born on the family farm, "Hillside," outside Staunton, Va., Nov. 25, 1917. When he was 7, his family moved to Greensboro.

He attended Aycock Elementary School and Greensboro Senior High School.

After graduating from Washington & Lee University, he served in the U. S. Army Air Corps in North Africa and Italy during World War II. After the service, he returned to Greensboro and worked for Winchester Ritch Surgical Supply for 40 years.

Wilson also paints, and, prompted by his love of classical music and insatiable desire to learn, began to teach himself to play the piano a few years ago.

He has two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren.

His son, Ben Wilson Jr., also lives in Greensboro and is close to his father.

"I am proud of my dad," said Ben Jr.

"He is one of the most creative people I know. Even at 91, he is always thinking of new ways to make and fix things and is an inventor by nature."

"Dad is happiest when he's helping people, figuring out how to solve a problem and making something work again," said Ben Jr.

"His example of generously giving to others, living within one's means, and trying not to waste things may be particularly appropriate for Americans now."

Contact Peggy Longmire at rlongmire@triad.rr.com or 288-9040.