Many of us want to be a police officer or ballerina when we grow up, but not this man! Barry Cox wanted to be the Pope when he grew up. While Pope Barry does have a certain ring to it, many of us know that he is currently not in that particular occupation. What Barry DID do, however, was pursue a life of artistic reverence. This artistry culminated in him creating the world’s first cathedral made entirely out of trees!

Man builds incredible cathedral out of trees!

Barry is a gardener. Over his life he found himself moving on to various artistic tasks and eventually creating an incredible church structure while only using trees. Most cathedrals are made with the most expensive materials and construction methods of all time. Not Barry. The real cost of building a cathedral-like this was the time it took the plants to grow into the shape he wanted!

“The TreeChurch, Ohaupo, is a living, breathing structure designed and built by Barry Cox to be a place of interest and contemplation. Set in three acres of distinctive gardens it was inspired by Barry’s love of Churches and although initially created as a private garden, Barry was persuaded to open the gardens to the public in 2015.”

Natural reverence.

The entire took over four years to grow. Seated in the city of Ohaupo, New Zealand, this beautiful structure emanates something naturally reverent. Fondly named “Tree Church”, it is a place that people travel to try and seek a deeper connection.

It makes sense why it seems to be so successful! There is something beautiful about the nature around us and the connection we seem to feel with it.

The entire complex is something to be marveled at. A cathedral, maze, garden, and more are what you can expect if you ever travel to this secret sanctuary.

The property is built around the church itself. If you are planning to visit, it has much more than that. The path leading up to the main “building” is lined with rows of small trees, giving a feeling of order and tidiness.

As you continue to the cathedral, you encounter a wrought fence that opens to allow passage to the building.

The inside of the church brings back feelings of old-growth forests and fiction books from childhood.

Once inside the church itself, you are transported to a different realm (maybe even literally!). The walls let just enough light in to allow you to see the rich greenery that makes up the building. The walls are Leptospernum trees and add to the richness of the experience.

The ground is green and soft and draws the eye towards the altar at the front of the church. The Italian marble of the altar brings a feeling of solidity to the flowing nature of the wooden benches and uneven walls.

The church is the center of attention, but there is much more to experience on the property.

Need to work out some inner angst? Take a trip down the river garden as the water flows and creates a picture-perfect environment and auditory experience. The garden maze might also be a great place to deal with those inner demons that keep popping up!

Walk in silence as you wonder about the world and all that is in it. The entire property is built for inner reflection and contemplation.

Whether planning a wedding or a spiritual retreat, Tree Church might be the place to visit!

Tree Church accepts bookings for weddings and other events! As of the writing of this article, it is even up for sale! Maybe you could be the one to purchase your own private New Zealand paradise. As Barry

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Source: Shareably, Tree Church, Rumble