Entry No. 28 — the Charlotte file — filed under: outdoor
Homeless Jesus Statue
Sculpted by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, this life-sized bronze monument depicts a figure sleeping wrapped in a blanket on a park bench, with cruciform wounds visible on his bare feet. Installed outside St. Alban's Episcopal Church, it was the first permanent casting of the artwork placed in the United States.
The story
Pull up to St. Alban's Episcopal Church at 301 Caldwell Lane, and your eyes will immediately catch what looks like someone sleeping rough on a church bench. Wrapped completely in a thin blanket, the figure stays motionless against the backdrop of a pristine, affluent college town north of Charlotte. It isn't until you walk directly up to the sculpture that you see the only exposed flesh: a pair of bare bronze feet stamped with cruciform wounds.
Sculpted by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, this life-sized monument arrived at St. Alban's as the very first permanent casting installed anywhere in the United States. In a manicured suburban enclave that rarely sees visible street homelessness, the bronze form immediately rattled nerves. Shortly after its placement, local emergency dispatchers fielded calls from concerned neighbors who mistook the statue for an actual person sleeping outside, while others grumbled that the stark image disrupted the upscale suburban aesthetic.
Schmalz didn't design the piece to be admired from behind a fence. He deliberately sculpted the bench with empty slat space right beside the shrouded body, inviting you to sit down directly next to it. The setup forces an intimate, slightly uncomfortable proximity to artwork that turns traditional religious iconography on its head, replacing cathedral grandeur with the cold reality of a park bench.
What it's like
You will find the bench resting on the open church lawn just off Caldwell Lane. Parking is straightforward in the church lot, and because the sculpture sits outdoors on open grounds, you can walk up to it anytime without paying a dime or waiting for open doors. Take a seat on the empty end of the bench to notice the heavy folds of the bronze blanket and the deep nail wounds in the feet. It is a brief, quiet, and surprisingly provocative stop—best followed by a quick drive into downtown Davidson to grab a coffee or a scoop of ice cream on Main Street.
The move: Visit the peaceful lawns of St. Alban's to sit beside the bronze bench, then take a stroll through downtown Davidson to grab coffee or ice cream.
- 📍 Davidson
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 301 Caldwell Ln, Davidson, NC 28036
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Hugh Torance House and Store — Head six miles south to Huntersville to inspect North Carolina's oldest surviving store structure built from 18th-century logs.
- UNC Charlotte Observatory — Follow up a contemplative visit in Davidson with an evening star party looking through high-powered telescopes at UNCC.
- Pillars of Dreams — Contrast Davidson's solemn bronze figure with a surreal, cloud-like magenta and blue pavilion installation in Charlotte.
Good to know
Where is the Homeless Jesus statue located?
It sits on the front lawn outside St. Alban's Episcopal Church at 301 Caldwell Lane in Davidson, North Carolina.
Can you sit on the bench next to the statue?
Yes. Artist Timothy Schmalz specifically left open seating space on one side of the bench so visitors can sit right beside the bronze figure.
Why did the statue cause controversy when it was first installed?
Installed in a wealthy lakeside community, the realistic sculpture prompted some residents to call the police mistaking it for an unhoused person sleeping outside, while others felt its raw imagery did not belong in the neighborhood.
Is there an admission fee or restricted viewing hours?
No. The outdoor sculpture is freely accessible 24/7 on the church grounds, though visiting during daylight gives you the best look at the bronze details.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · stalbansdavidson.org · npr.org
last checked: 2026-07-21