Cathedral of the Pines
Coordinates: 42°46′29″N 71°59′18″W / 42.7747°N 71.9884°W
Cathedral of the Pines is an open-air complex in Rindge, New Hampshire, that was built as a memorial to American war dead. It incorporates a multi-denominational sanctuary, other sacred spaces, and a number of burial grounds. The Cathedral, which commands a scenic view of forested land and Mount Monadnock, is run as a nonprofit corporation.
In 1937, Douglas Sloane III and his wife Sibyl purchased a 128-acre (52 ha) property about 2 miles (3 km) northeast of the center of Rindge. Their intention was that their four children would later build houses on separate lots within the property. The following year, a destructive hurricane hit the region, and the five-acre lot selected for the second son, Sanderson (Sandy), was badly damaged. It was situated on a knoll and, when the family went to assess the damage, they saw that the fallen trees had revealed a spectacular view across the forests towards Mount Monadnock to the northwest, with other mountains visible beyond. The view remains unspoiled to this day.
Sandy, who joined the United States Air Force, was killed in action in 1944, leaving a wife and newborn son (who would survive less than three years). In August 1945, the family used the clearing that would have been his home for a memorial service that was attended from people around the community. Building on that event, the Sloanes developed the Cathedral of the Pines as a memorial for those fallen in service to the nation, and as a monument to peace and understanding. They welcomed people of all faiths, and developed the site into a series of locations for outdoor chapels, cemeteries, and other monuments. It now encompasses 236 acres (96 ha).
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