X marks the spot

While pruning the hedge today I nearly had a coronary after spotting this enormas sized Orb spider. What started off as shock which would usually result in the spider meeting the back side of my size eleven shoe, turned to intrigue by the beautiful cross woven into its web. Don't get me wrong, I still hate spiders but you have to appreciate the beauty of it. Is it to attract insects? or just an art? It must of had an effect as the spider still lives and the beautiful web is still intact!