For several years Mr. and Mrs. George Manahan wintered in Tucson and lived on First Street near the Rev. Hayden Sears' home. Sears was senior pastor at CUMC at the time. When Mr. Manahan died in 1963. Mrs. Manahan asked about a memorial. She and Dr. Sears decided that it would be a fountain, which was completed in 1964.

     James F. Savage, an architectural sculptor, was hired to create the memorial fountain, which features three crosses, built of 56 sculptured blocks carrying symbols carved on three surfaces (total 168). The pool of the fountain is 15 feet by 20 feet, the fountain is 13 feet high and 10 feet wide. The blocks were made in the shape of square-cornered "U's" from crushed marble and white cement. Robert Savage, James Savage's son, made the blocks. James Savage then carved the symbols on the three surfaces of the hollow blocks.

     Savage said in an account published at the time, that he "Sought a fresh approach to familiar Christian symbols." Savage saw the fountain with its three crosses as representing the Trinity. In preparation for sculpturing the fountain, Savage read the whole Bible twice; it took him a year and a half. He read the four Gospels of the New Testament dealing with the Life of Christ many more times.

     This work of art and Christian symbolism is enjoyed by many. Often folks who buy ice cream near the church will sit on the edge of the fountain, relaxing and enjoying the water feature. For many people the George A. Manahan Memorial Fountain has become a landmark identifying CUMC. In April 1964 the fountain was featured on the cover of TOGETHER magazine. A copy may be viewed in the church archives.