<div><p>At some point in time, we've all come across churches, chapels and cathedrals with breathtaking architecture, intricate stained glass designs, and incredible sculptures. </p><p>For Barry Cox, churches around world served as an inspiration to construct his own. </p><p>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."</p><p>But, what sets Cox's church apart from the rest?</p><div><figure><a href="http://treechurch.co.nz/" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Tree-church-3.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Tree-church-3_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Tree-church-3_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Tree-church-3_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Tree-church-3_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Tree-church-3_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://treechurch.co.nz/" target="_blank">Treechurch.co.nz</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p> It is made almost entirely of living trees! </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>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, <a href="http://treelocations.co.nz/">Treelocations</a>.</p><div><figure><a href="http://treechurch.co.nz/" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Elevated_45o_final-960x600.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Elevated_45o_final-960x600_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Elevated_45o_final-960x600_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Elevated_45o_final-960x600_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Elevated_45o_final-960x600_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Elevated_45o_final-960x600_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://treechurch.co.nz/" target="_blank">Treechurch.co.nz</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>"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 <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/nz-gardener/69848179/the-man-who-grew-a-church-from-trees">New Zealand Gardner</a>.</p><div><figure><a href="http://treechurch.co.nz/" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tree-church-garden.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tree-church-garden_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tree-church-garden_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tree-church-garden_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tree-church-garden_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tree-church-garden_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tree-church-garden_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tree-church-garden_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tree-church-garden_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tree-church-garden_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://treechurch.co.nz/" target="_blank">Treechurch.co.nz</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>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.</p><div><figure><a href="http://katerobinsonphotography.com/2016/04/jeremy-megan-the-tree-church-hamilton-nz/" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Hamilton_Wedding_NZ_0009-1024x683.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Hamilton_Wedding_NZ_0009-1024x683_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Hamilton_Wedding_NZ_0009-1024x683_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Hamilton_Wedding_NZ_0009-1024x683_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Hamilton_Wedding_NZ_0009-1024x683_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Hamilton_Wedding_NZ_0009-1024x683_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="A Wedding at Tree Church" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center">A Couple Getting Married at Tree Church<cite><a href="http://katerobinsonphotography.com/2016/04/jeremy-megan-the-tree-church-hamilton-nz/" target="_blank">Kate Robinson Photography</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>Watch the video for a peek inside this one-of-a-kind church. </p><div><div><div><amp-youtube height="9" width="16" layout="responsive" data-videoid="wqZYWpjcJ1k"></amp-youtube></div></div></div><p>Would you visit Tree Church? Let us know in the comments below!</p><p>[Sources: <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/nz-gardener/69848179/the-man-who-grew-a-church-from-trees">Stuff</a>/ <a href="http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/07/tree-church-new-zealand/">This Is Colossal</a>/<a href="http://treechurch.co.nz/">Tree Church</a>]</p><p></p></div>