Cathedral of the Pines is often thought of as a wedding venue, according to Executive Director Laurie Kandoll. But in reality it is so much more.
Kandoll will be speaking next week at the Monadnock Rotary Club’s weekly meeting on some of the opportunities available at the local scenic spot.
Kandoll plans to start her presentation with a history of the Cathedral of the Pines site, which was originally started as a war memorial to honor of Second Lieutenant Sanderson Sloane, who perished when his plane was shot down over Germany in 1944. Sloane’s parents, Sibyl and Douglas Sloane, founded the Cathedral the year after their son’s death as an interfaith monument to all American men and women who have served their country.
But the Cathedral offers more than being a wedding venue and memorial. Kandoll wants people to be aware of the other programming that is part of the Cathedral of the Pines – weekly music and theater events in the summertime, newly opened hiking trails and a venue for parties and conferences.
“People think of us as a wedding venue, and don’t always realize it’s just a beautiful place to come and relax. There’s so much history here that people don’t realize,” said Kandoll.
This summer, for example, the Cathedral has multiple upcoming events. The Videri Quartet, a classical music group, will be playing at the Cathedral on Thursday. Folk music by Wendy Keith and Her Alleged Band will be on Aug. 18. Balladeer Jeff Warner will play on Sept. 1. All events start at 7 p.m. and tickets are $5 for adults, with children under 12 free.
“We want people to come up and see it and see what a beautiful place they have right in their backyard,” said Kandoll.
Kandoll’s talk on the history of the Cathedral and more upcoming events will take place during the Monadnock Rotary Club meeting on Aug. 2 at 7:30 a.m. at the Dublin Community Church basement. Guests are welcome.