Man Spends 4 Years Building A Breathtaking Church Using An Unexpected Material

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Man Spends 4 Years Building A Breathtaking Church Using An Unexpected Material

At some point in time, we've all come across churches, chapels and cathedrals with breathtaking architecture, intricate stained glass designs, and incredible sculptures.

For Barry Cox, churches around world served as an inspiration to construct his own.

Cox built a chapel in New Zealand that can seat a hundred people and is set within "three acres of extensive shaded gardens, including a labyrinth walk based on the ancient city of Jericho from 460 BC."

But, what sets Cox's church apart from the rest?

It is made almost entirely of living trees!

One doesn't have to be religious to appreciate the artistry that went into building the Tree Church. Cox spent about 4 years creating the church on his property near Cambridge with the help of his tree moving business, Treelocations.

"I walked out my back door one day and thought, 'That space needs a church' "“ and so it began. I cleared the area in April 2011 and made the iron frame, drawing on all the research I had done over the years of studying churches. I wanted the roof and the walls to be distinctly different, to highlight the proportions, just like masonry churches" Cox told New Zealand Gardner.

The church and the surrounding garden was supposed to be a "retreat from society" for Cox but he decided to open it up to the public after word about the unique place of worship got out. According to their website, Tree Church is now available for public visits as well as private functions such as wedding and photoshoots.

A Wedding at Tree Church
A Couple Getting Married at Tree ChurchKate Robinson Photography

Watch the video for a peek inside this one-of-a-kind church.

Would you visit Tree Church? Let us know in the comments below!

[Sources: Stuff/ This Is Colossal/Tree Church]

Blair isn't a bestselling author, but she has a knack for beautiful prose. When she isn't writing for Shared, she enjoys listening to podcasts.