紐西蘭一位名叫巴瑞 (Barry Cox) 的男子花了4年時間建造這座獨特的綠色教堂。
![Using his trademark Tree Spade, Barry Cox was able to relocate a variety of mature trees to create a unique and structurally complex church on his 1.2 hectare property](http://teepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2A367CC100000578-0-image-a-3_1436012920913.jpg)
巴瑞年輕時曾花好幾年時間騎機車環遊歐洲和美國,並對教堂建築產生濃厚興趣,回到紐西蘭後,他把樹木移植到廣達1.2公頃的土地上,並耐心培育、等待,終於成功打造一座會呼吸的活教堂!
巴瑞刻意選擇枝葉較為稀疏的植物來「製作」教堂屋頂,以確保光線能夠透入,即使是寒冬也不會有光線不足問題。
![The roof is made from Cut Leaf Alder, chosen for its sparse foliage which allows an abundance of light to shine into the church, even on the coldest winter’s day](http://teepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2A367CAC00000578-0-image-m-26_1436013111598.jpg)
圍牆則是用粗壯的澳大利亞樹所圍成。
![The walls are made from an Australian tree that boasts thick and textured greenery called Copper Sheen](http://teepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2A367D5100000578-0-The_walls_are_made_from_an_Australian_tree_that_boasts_thick_and-m-34_1436013583941.jpg)
教堂裡頭有大約能容納100人的座位,結構目前還依賴鐵架,預計數年後可以被枝幹給取代。
雖然巴瑞原本是打算建造一座自己的專屬秘密教堂,但由於拗不過親友,他最後選擇開放這片小天地。
![Saturated in natural light, the dappled rays shine on a floor of bright green grass which is offset by a noteworthy marble alter that was taken from Mr Cox's own family church](http://teepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2A36876E00000578-0-Saturated_in_natural_light_the_dappled_rays_shine_on_a_floor_of_-m-38_1436015408474.jpg)
每當有新人要來教堂結婚時,巴瑞都會花上8小時幫教堂的草木「梳妝打扮」。
![A Labyrinth walk is a single circuitous path that winds its way into the center often used during meditation](http://teepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2A367D6000000578-0-A_Labyrinth_walk_is_a_single_circuitous_path_that_winds_its_way_-m-27_1436013327856.jpg)
巴瑞表示,他大約花5小時除草,再花3小時確定教堂的花園和樹木已經準備好「迎客」。
![While Mr Cox orignially designed the unique space for his own enjoyment, he bowed to pressure from friends and relatives in January, finally opening the magical property's wrought iron gates to the public](http://teepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2A36879D00000578-0-image-m-28_1436013351037.jpg)
巴瑞說,這些樹很多是從附近「救」回來的,由於大家知道他很愛樹,所以如果有大樹要被砍掉,對方會先致電給巴瑞,而他也會馬上去把大樹救回自己的小天地。
![As couples line up to say their vows in the one-of-a-kind venue, Mr Cox revealed he spends around eight hours 'primping' the grounds before it is ready for an event](http://teepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2A3687A400000578-0-As_couples_line_up_to_say_their_vows_in_the_one_of_a_kind_venue_-m-29_1436013422885.jpg)
因此,雖然巴瑞的教堂僅完成4年,但這裡的樹會讓你以為這座教堂歷史悠久。
教堂裡有約100個位子,且每週大約會有兩次活動。
![The space seats around 100 people and is currently supported by a temporary iron frame, which in a few yeas will be replaced by branches from the growing roof](http://teepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2A3687AE00000578-0-The_space_seats_around_100_people_and_is_currently_supported_by_-m-30_1436013441168.jpg)
![Devoted to giving condemned tree's a second life, much of the greenery that now stands on Mr Cox's property was liberated from surrounding areas](http://teepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2A36878500000578-0-image-m-31_1436013459679.jpg)
巴瑞以前曾夢想成為教皇,如今也算是美夢成真了!
![Relocating trees that have already been given the chance to mature means that Mr Cox's garden does not look four years old, it appears to have been established decades before](http://teepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2A367D6D00000578-0-image-m-32_1436013478708.jpg)
快來看看這座不可思議的綠色活教堂吧!
來源:Daily Mail
原來世界的某個角落有這樣美麗的地方,快把這座會呼吸的活教堂分享給朋友,讓更多人能夠認識這片小天地吧!
(往下還有更多精彩文章!)