Cathedral In The Pines Memorialises War's Fallen

Back in 1935 Sybil and Douglas Sloane, inspired by a walk around Lake George in New York, decided to build an outdoor chapel. This was the genesis of the Cathedral in the Pines. The Massachusetts natives found the spot they were looking for in the township of Rindge, New Hampshire. Several hundred acres of farmland that featured tall pines and a stunning view of the Grand Monadnock Mountain convinced them they had the right place.

In the beginning the chapel was conceived as a personal endeavour by the Sloanes. They gave each of their four children their choice of a plot of land on the property to build their own homes.

It wasn't until 1944 when their son Sandy, an Army Air Force pilot, was shot down over Germany that the Sloanes decided to dedicate the chapel to those who had died in the nation's service. Later that was expanded to include all Americans who served their country.

Building the chapel in the sight of Grand Monadnock was an inspired choice for the Cathedral in the Pines. It is one of the most climbed mountains in the world and has been a touchstone for generations of Americans and non-Americans alike. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Rudyard Kipling, Mark Twain, Henry David Thoreau and Willa Cather all claimed to derive their inspiration from Monadnock. Although the mountain can be seen from virtually everywhere in southern New Hampshire, the view from the Sloanes' property is considered the most spiritual.

Eventually the Cathedral in the Pines became more than a family enterprise. In keeping with the Sloanes' beliefs, it has always been open to all faiths. Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists have been welcomed to the cathedral in the spirit of brotherhood. The thousands of visitors who arrive annually from May 1 to October 31 are immediately struck by the serenity and acceptance that pervades the cathedral.

Perhaps the most striking edifice is the cathedral's main altar. It has been built with stones from every state in the Union and from every American President since Harry Truman. Congress declared it the Altar of the Nation in 1957. It contains a stone from Plymouth, England and another from Plymouth, Massachusetts, the starting and finishing points of the Mayflower voyage. There are stones from the battlefields of Lexington and Concord, the Parthenon in Athens and the Coliseum in Rome. There are huge slabs from a quarry in Maryland that straddles the Mason-Dixon line. Soil from Mt. Zion in Israel was used to make the mortar that holds the stones in place. Most notable for the Sloanes, the mayor in the German town where Sandy Sloane was shot down donated one of the stones.

Also not to be overlooked is a 55 foot tower dedicated to American women who served their country as nurses in wartime and in other capacities. The bell tower was partially designed by Douglas Sloane III. It features plaques honouring pioneer women, women in the military, battlefield nurses, Clara Barton and women who served in the Salvation Army, YWCA and USO. It also honors a host of others from the Sisters of Charity, war correspondents and women wartime factory workers exemplified by the iconic Rosie the Riveter.

The centrepiece of the Cathedral in the Pines is the cathedral. An open air rustic memorial to peace and brotherhood, it attracts thousands of visitors eager to participate in the services. A memorable sunrise service cannot help but inspire those who have the privilege of attending.

Throughout the season, a variety of one off and annual events take place on a daily basis. These include more traditional events like the Annual Jewish Service and the Annual Wedding Vows Renewal Service. But they also include events like the Annual Mother's Day Blessing of the Bikers service for the motorcycle community.

The Cathedral in the Pines relies heavily not only on donations to continue funding its mission, but on volunteers as well. Everything from sweeping the grounds, to repairing damage done by sometimes severe New Hampshire winters, to bake sales held to raise money requires volunteers.

The Cathedral in the Pines is worth the trip to the tiny township of Rindge, New Hampshire. If you're heading that way for a 2010 ski holiday a visit is well worthwhile. It is a humble community that hosts a monumental endeavour celebrating peace and brotherhood.

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