When you think of the word church, what comes to mind?

Likely, you envision some sort of cathedral with tall windows of stained glass and an endless row of pews. If you did think these things, you wouldn’t be alone. Traditionally, many churches look just like this.

But why not use your imagination to go beyond the typical to think of something different? While it doesn’t need to be extravagant, something personal and from the heart could make any space feel sacred.

New Zealander, Barry Cox, grew up in a Catholic household and knew the significance of a church and just how important it is to feel at peace when in one. He even had dreams of becoming the Pope. Needless to say, he was never afraid to think big.

Fortunately, that mindset made all of his dreams feel achievable.

As Cox grew older, his love of plants grew as well. He began to develop new creations using them. One day, he walked into his backyard and decided to build a special and private area just for himself. Somewhere that let him “retreat from society.”

Cox knew exactly what he wanted — a church. He also had three acres of land to build on. Thus, Cox spent the next four years putting together his private church made from living trees.

But Cox wasn’t just picking random trees to build from. he owns a gardening company called Treelocations that replants live trees. This allowed him to plant live trees anyway that he wanted, helping him bring his vision to life.

Although the church is made of trees, it is supported by a metal frame. This, of course, gives the church a solid structure and allows the church to withstand harsher weather conditions. Because of what it is built from, the church was given a name — Tree Church.

Leading up to the church are small trees that line the walkway. This gives the feeling of being surrounded entirely by nature. It also serves as a reminder of the privacy of the property.

At the very end of the walkway, the church sits on a spacious lot. There is also a gate and shrubs and bushes surrounding the church to keep it protected. Perhaps the space surrounding the church is the most eye-catching feature of the church. It is incredibly beautiful, large, and peaceful.

Laciniata trees line the ceiling of the church while the walls are built from Leptospermum trees. The latter helps create the dark and shaded walls of the building. This, coupled with the deep and rich green grass, makes it all the more visually fascinating.

The alter at the front is made from Italian marble. It shines vividly in the light that seeps in through the openings of the ceiling. There are also several rows of pews that seat up to 100 guests.

The garden is stunning as Cox’s love for plants and gardening is easy to appreciate. It’s utterly breathtaking. There is even a small labyrinth maze surrounding the church that makes it all the more intriguing. It’s believed that mazes protect valuable treasures.

It truly is wonderful that Cox decided to open this sanctuary up to the public. People are so marveled by its beauty they have expressed desires to be wed there and host other big events. It’s no wonder why. Just look at the photos!

You can watch the video below to see a virtual tour of the cathedral!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Sources: Treelocations, Shareably