Living Stone Foundation

Living Stone Foundation is a place of refuge for people of all faiths or no faith, to visit and see the wisdom of God’s Word creatively engraved in stone. Looking for truth? Come reflect or meditate on the timeless truths. Pray, worship, or just discover the relevance of wise ancient writings to our modern culture, all within a beautiful park-like setting.

• DISCOVER… over 1000 tons of rejected stones gathered from several NE quarries.
• COME AND SEE approximately 200 stone monuments, panels and boulders
• Visit the chapel sized after the Bible’s “Holy of Holies”, made from 450 tons of “rejected” stones, and engraved inside and out with dozens of inspired scriptures… and…
• 300 Biblical passages, saying and quotations, artistically engraved in granite and marble.
• A 16′ tall, 5-ton Cross
• A 30′ tall 41-ton Column with 10 ton capital and 15 ton base. (“I Am That I Am“)
• Ask about the stories behind some of the special stones, like “The Truth Will Set You Free“
• Explore: Can you find the stone from Bethlehem? Or, seek out a personally favorite passage and take your picture along side!

All are welcome! We are open 8:30am-until-dusk, year round. Obviously, winter snows do limit access (bring snowshoes). It is free to visit! Just come And…bring a friend. Tours are available by appointment. Please call:

978-534-4869

Living Stone Foundation
656 Wachusett Street
Leominster, MA 01453

THE JOURNEY BEGAN in 1967. Bob and Carol Tellier, recently married, put a $50 deposit on 20+ acres of land, near the summit of the hill along Wachusett Street in Leominster, MA. The Early American styled main house was designed and built shortly thereafter. Bob was a Leominster school teacher and Carol worked for Mohawk Wire & Cable, a local electrical supplier, at that time.

Several years later, Carol began a new career, working for “Mary Kay”, a company that teaches its people to “put God first…family second… and career third”! That practice of priorities launched Carol into lifelong ministry and service. Yes, she taught classes and held many meetings with Mary Kay specialists, providing encouragement and instruction. But those encounters became an opportunity for Carol to share the Gospel of Jesus with countless ladies over the years. Carol’s initiatives eventually led her to become a Director, but it also impacted and changed many women’s lives, who now call Jesus their Savior.

A significant part of Carol’s work involved leading regular training sessions, which she initially held in local rented facilities. Eventually, she and Bob agreed that a “Mary Kay” wing should be added to their original house, so that Carol could more efficiently hold meetings from home. (Note the Mary Kay wing is at the right side of the residence, below the cupola.)

This story-book beginning took an unplanned twist in April of 1974, when Bob, then 32, suffered the first of two heart attacks that same year! Ironically, Bob’s father had died from heart issues, just 3 months before! Thinking he was not long for this world, Bob shifted gears to wildly enjoy what time he had left.

About the time Bob turned 40, he was invited to a men’s breakfast. There, three men shared their personal stories, describing how Jesus Christ had changed their lives. And, God used their testimonies to drastically change Bob’s life. He began to read and study The Bible in earnest. Curiosity prompted him to dig deeper on his own, seeking to find the TRUTH about this famous Rabbi. (Note: you will see “veritas“, latin for truth, engraved in several places about the property)

Amidst these days of Bible research, a visiting friend suggested to Bob the idea of building a large, walk-in chimney at the end of the kitchen. That idea took hold and Bob told Carol convincingly that “We’ll have a big fire in the fireplace when Thanksgiving rolls around“. With hesitation she “believed him” and offered her blessing. Soon, Bob tore the entire end off the kitchen and began to lay out the foundation for the chimney. (Note: At that point, Bob had never mixed cement!”) He hired a mason who agreed to helped get him started. The mason was to stay about 3-weeks. But… on the FIRST DAY, the mason was pressed to take a big job elsewhere! So, the mason showed Bob how to mix cement and together they set the cornerstone. You guessed it… after 1 day, the mason never returned. Bob was on his own!

Carol recalls that Bob was true to his prediction. It was Thanksgiving when they first got to build a fire and use the new chimney. BUT… it was FIVE… Thanksgivings… later!

When you visit DO ASK…

• How is it that TWO different men completed the chimney, when Bob worked alone?
• What does the “spur” sticking out in the middle of the chimney signify?
• What is engraved around the Chimney Cap?
• Why are different languages engraved all over the Chimney? What do they mean?
• How did Bob and Carol survive through the years after Bob retired from teaching?

TAKE A WALK! There’s lots to see. Wander the property and examine the various quotations along the way. DISCOVER familiar verses. Be INSPIRED by famous sayings from God’s Word; Jesus; His Disciples; the Prophets; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Henry David Thoreau; Booker T. Washington and others. Sit in the Isaiah Circle for a time of STUDY or reflection. Bring a picnic for your family (We have tables) and EXPLORE!

There are columns, single stones and panels. The stones may be smooth or sawn; polished or rough; ornate or simple; both large and small… all for you to examine. See if you can find one that touches your heart, and have someone take your picture by it.

ECCE HOMO is Latin for “Behold the Man“… These are the words that Pilate spoke to the Jewish leaders, after he had Jesus flogged.

The night before Passover, Jesus was betrayed by a disciple, Judas Iscariot; arrested and brought to the High Priest, where the Council of Elders questioned Him. When the Council asked Jesus, “Are you the Christ?” He answered “I am…“!

With that, the Council condemned Jesus for blasphemy; and sought to have Him put to death. But, they could not execute Him without a decree from the Roman authorities. So, Jesus was brought to Pilate, the Roman Governor. There, the Jewish leaders pressed for Pilate to have Jesus crucified! Pilate questioned Jesus, but found no basis worthy of execution. He actually attempted to have Jesus released. But, to appease the crowd, Pilate had him flogged and presented the bloodied Jesus to the crowd, saying “Ecce Homo” (Behold the Man). Unsatisfied, the crowd persisted with loud shouts to have Jesus executed. Unable to appease the crowd, Pilate caved to their demands; “washed his hands” of the matter; and turned Jesus over for crucifixion. (Luke 23:24)

Jesus once asked his Disciples… “Who do you say that I am?” It is one of the most pivotal questions in history! … WHAT DO YOU SAY? Who is this man, “Jesus”?

The Chapel is sized to closely match the Old Testament “Holy of Holies“, frequently measured as 20 cubits wide x 20 cubits long x 20 cubits tall. What is a “cubit”? The Bible says it is about 18″. Other ancient texts also describe a “Royal Cubit”, noting that dimension to be about 20.7 inches. Ecce Homo was built to nearly match the dimensions of Holy of Hollies. Just as in ancient times, it is a place to go “meet with God”. We hope you will find the same experience when you visit… and meet with God.

What is the “Holy of Holies”? The Bible, in Exodus 27 and Leviticus 16 talks about The Tabernacle, a Holy Place designed by God, and later constructed accordingly, under Moses direction. Within the Tabernacle was a smaller room called “The Most Holy Place” (or “Holy of Holies”). Separated from the Tabernacle by a veil, it was to be entered only once per year, on the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest would enter and offer a sacrifice for the Israelites before God. Later, Solomon’s Temple contained a similar room, also called the Holy of Holies, intended for the exact same purpose. Inside these sacred rooms, the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat were kept.

Another type of Tabernacle is mentioned in Exodus 33…. After God gave the Ten Commandments, Moses carried the tablets down to the people. There, at a distance from the Israelite camp, Moses pitched a Tent. He call it the “Tent of Meeting”, where he would go to meet with God face-to-face! When in the tent, God’s “Pillar of Cloud” would remain outside as a sign for the Israelites to stand outside their own tents until Moses appeared. Later in Exodus 24, Moses met again with God on Mt. Sinai, and upon return to the camp his face was glowing (radiant), which frightened the people. So Moses would put a veil over his face, until he returned to meet with God again. (These Exodus passages make an excellent “Meeting with God” Study.)

There’s nothing like an in-person perspective of the “Ecce Homo” Chapel interior to understand the details, engravings and scale of the building. Even the sound in the Chapel reverberates nicely, echoing off the tall dome ceiling and solid granite surfaces. Scroll your mouse over the image below and drag it around to get a glimpse of the inside.

Come explore the Chapel in person.