I know a green cathedral, 
a hallowed forest shrine. Where leaves in love join hands above
to arch your prayer and mine.
Within its cool depths sacred, the priestly cedar sighs.
And the fir and pine lift arms divine
unto the clear blue skies.
In my dear green cathedral
there is a quiet seat.
And choir loft in branched croft 
where songs of birds hymn sweet.
And I like to think at evening
when the stars its arches light. That my Lord and God treads its hallowed sod in the cool, calm peace of night.
Next weekend we’ll be heading out to Shrinemont for a Getaway Weekend. What a beautiful place it is, and it will be a time for reflection, relaxation and good company with friends!
http://www.madisonhandbells.org/music/PicnicPark/04-Green-Cathedral45.mp3
48 comments
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February 15, 2009 at 11:51 am
Bety Boda
Thank you for the words to “Green Cathedral”. This morning the song came back to me (from 60 plus years ago!). We sang it in my Jr. Hi Girls Glee Club. God used this song to speak to me sweetly over the years. I was trying to recall all the words today–missing many of them. So, now you have given them back to me. Thank you! I’ve copied them; and am grateful to God for the reminder that He uses seeds planted early in life to bear much fruit later on.
July 15, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Anonymous
I heard the words to Green Cathedral about 50 yrs ago also and forgot alot of them but as a hiker and nature lover they are constantly with me so I am also grateful to finally have all the words. One of my favorite cathedrals is Mohonk in NY state. Thank you for giving me this wonderful gift again……
July 22, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Lei M.Bailey-Leahy
I recently had a brief discussion about this song, which was taught to me by nuns in Blessed Sacrament Elementary school over sixty years ago In New Orleans. My husband and I had just purchased a home in a lovely little town called Oakhurst, Calif.
It is a beautiful, serene place that is surrounded by lovely old trees.
The beautiful ‘old song’ “A Green Cathedral” entered my mind. I, like many others who responded, could not remember all of the words, but the haunting beauty of the song never left me. Thanks for giving the lyrics back to me. Lei Leahy
October 18, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Barbara (Gale) Christian
I, too, love this old song and especially love the beauty of trees. We sang this in the 7th grade at El Dorado School in Stockton, CA in 1946. It is almost a reverent hymn and really touches the heart. I have the sheet music somewhere buried away. Couldn’t find it so looked it up on the internet. Thank you for sharing the words to this beautiful song.
February 10, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Berenice
We sang this in 8th grade at Emerson School in Maywood, IL in 1955. Imagine being able to sing about God in a public school!! Not allowed now. Anyway, have been searching for the words to this song for years. I even remember the cover of the sheet music which was done in pen and ink. I am so thrilled to find the words. I know I can get the sheet music but I can’t play an instrument so I sure wish I could get a recording of someone singing it.
February 20, 2010 at 10:28 am
Anonymous
Thanks for putting this song (Green Cathedral) on line! I’m 63 hrs old, sung this song when I was 13, loved it but couldn’t find it! Now, hopefully I can find it actually being sung online! I would love to hear it sung again. Thanks again.
March 14, 2010 at 12:00 pm
treewhispers
Thanks for sharing the lyrics to the Green Cathedral. As a lover of trees, my mentors—these words resonate.
“Where trees in love join hands above…”
March 25, 2010 at 2:07 pm
H-Grace
I was taught this song when a grade school student in Dallas, TX in the 1950s, and I’ve sung it all my life. Some of the wording is archaic, so I searched to confirm the lyrics. And, lo, the very site I click on has photos of Shrinemont, which I’ve been to. I now live in Virgina. Thank you so much for posting!
April 3, 2010 at 4:28 am
peter
This is a true story. This song was sung by the intermediate girls a cappella choir
at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan the summer of 1972. That was the last time I heard it but I can remember the opening melody well. I heard it just days before or after my mother took her life that summer, while I was a camper there. Sadly, my mother had been a camper there before me.
April 9, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Dr Sally Headding
I sang this song in junior high chorus (Johns Hill Junior High, Decatur, Illinois – 1959) and it was my favorite. With the passing of time I’ve forgotten most of the words but never the melody. Thank you for posting this as it’s a lovely song with beautiful lyrics and warm memories that I am going to pass on to my granddaughters.
May 24, 2010 at 11:14 am
Sylvia
Thank you for posting the words to this song. As many of the above comments state, I, too, sang this song as a young girl in school and the words have stayed with me all through the years. The song touched me and I remembered some of the first verse and would hum it from time to time.
June 12, 2010 at 6:38 am
Susan Baker
As a Girl Scout at Camp Shanituck outside of Louisville, Ky I learned this song, loved it, but lost the words until now. Thank you!
June 12, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Cathy
Thank you for this posting. My father told me about Green Cathedral. He learned the song as a boy. He will be celebrating his 80th birthday soon, and I would like to have all the grandkids sing and play this song for him, but can’t find the music. Does anyone have it?
July 11, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Mary Lou
I have the music for this. Did you get it yet?
July 11, 2010 at 7:28 pm
faithful
No, but I would appreciate it. We can figure out a way I can get you my email address, etc.
Thank you, if it is possible to scan me a copy. I’m leading a service at that location soon, so maybe we could use it!
July 20, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Anonymous
Mary Lou, I would love to get the sheet music for voice, piano or organ. Could you email me as to where I can get it? Our church choir sang it almost 50 years ago. Please email me. dburns804@gmail.com
Thanks so much. I’ve been searching for it for years. Dawn
August 31, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Cathy
Mary Lou, I do not have the music yet. If possible, could you email it to me? cathy@sliva.com
Thanks!!
September 26, 2010 at 9:43 am
Nancy
Could you possibly send me a copy of the melody? Or perhaps the composer’s name?
June 13, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Mary Ellen
What a blessing to finally find the lyrics to this touching song. My wonderful music teacher, Mrs. Marilyn Jones (Bridgeport School, Wichita, Kansas 1955) chose me, a very introverted little girl, to sing this beautiful song for a school program. Her kindness and this song blessed me then, as they do today.
The melody is haunting and the words are so inspiring. After almost 60 years of humming it in the shower, trying to remember all the words, to find it posted here was a delight! I can not thank you enough for sharing it with so many of us who experienced a touch from God through the words and music of this song. Thanks again.
June 25, 2010 at 2:16 am
Lin
Amazing to find all this information about The Green Cathedral!!! It always comes back to me when walking in nature. Today my granddaughter and I were walking the loop around our local Technical College and I was telling her about this song. I don’t remember if I learned it in church, school or Campfire Girls, but the song was so special to me. It appears to be a midwestern thing. I’m 62 and grew up in Elmhurst, Illinois. Before Duch Elm disease, the trees literally joined hands above and formed the classic cathedral window over the streets of my hometown. So happy to have found all the words here.
)
June 30, 2010 at 2:18 am
Marlene C. Hoy
Marlene
My husband woke up this a.m. and said he repeatedly heard the old song Green Cathedral. We are in our late 70s and went to junior high school together. Our glee club teacher used to have the kids sing this beloved song. My husband and I have not heard this song sung over 60 years. We have a dear friend who is a professional singer and has often asked us to help him expand his repertoire. I’m so glad that I found this website with the long forgotten lyrics. I suppose there is a spiritual awakening to remind us of our precious planet Earth and how important it is for us to support and treasure it.
Blessings to all.
July 2, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Mary Evelyn Collins
Amazing! I also think of The Green Cathedral often. I learned it in 7 & 8th grade girls chorus at Fulton Junior High School in Cleburne, Texas. Mr. Bryan Duff was our choral teacher. The “sound” of the music was very light and shimmery and fit the words. It was the word pictures that came to mind each time we sang this lovely song that kept in in my mind and spirit. That was in 1960 and I have hummed and sung parts of it ever since.
Thanks for posting the words. It is such a blessing to see the whole song again. Another that had a similar sound was “Hear the Robin in the Rain,” which started: Hear the robin in the rain; Not one not doth he refrain. Anyone remember that one?
Thank you so much, Mary Evelyn Collins, Beaumont, TX
July 10, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Judith Milner
I think it is so interesting that so many of the comments make mention of having sung this song in their junior high years (7th-8th grades). So did I. And this parts of this soothing song have come back to me many times over the years since I learned it in the early 1960s. I am glad I thought to look for it. Thank you so much. Judith Milner, Suffolk, VA
August 31, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Alice Shoemaker-Deatherage
Like everyone else…I learned and loved this song that I sang in Middle (Junior High) School. How sad that a wonderful piece of history like this could not be sung in public school today because it might “offend” someone.
I think of it often when sitting on my back porch having my quiet time with Jesus…thanks for the reminder of the words!
September 26, 2010 at 5:19 pm
mary smith
I remember this song from Poquonock Elementary School in Poquonock,Connecticut. We sang it in the public school! I loved it then and now.
October 6, 2010 at 10:03 am
joanne hancock
My father was in the Navy and we move A LOT! Somewhere I sang this song in school and loved it. I am now 65 and I am sitting here all teary eyed at seeing/hearing this wonderful memory. Thank you.
October 11, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Linda Harris
Thanks for these forgotten lyrics.
Like many who left messages, my “chorus” group in either 6th or 7th grade sang this song in the 50s, and I always thought about it when walking the woods in Greene County, in upstate NY>
It seemed to be a “Green Cathedral” made real.
I’m so happy to have these lyrics again. Funny thing is I never forgot the melody.
Turns out the past isn’t lost…it’s on my laptop!
Linda Harris, Oceanside NY
January 21, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Michael DeBaets
I’m enjoying this performance of it on Youtube. For anyone who has forgotten the melody, like I did.
February 27, 2011 at 6:54 am
Sharon Peruzzini
Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU! I have also tryed for years to find this song. I also sang it in the 60′s in high school and have sung whatever I remembered of it over the years. What a wonderful blessing to again hear and sing the whole song.
March 22, 2011 at 7:20 am
LaDonna (Mitchell) Osborn
Thank you so much, for again giving me the opportunity to listen to this inspirational piece of music. I like so many others, remember this song from my school days in the late ’40s in a small school in Windfall, IN. While doing my lenten devotions early this morning based on John 15:15-16, written my our church secretary at the United Methodist Church in Shannon, IL, this song again came to my mind. She commented on how this Bible verse makes her aware of how close we are to God. That is what this song has always done for me & I sung the words quietly to myself often, wishing I could remember what happened to my sheet music
April 4, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Colton Cardell
We sang this song in music class in 1958. The song always sent chills down my back and gave me goose bumps. The song is so beautiful with so much meaning and it is true at heart. I also have forgot the words through passing time. This song is mijn leven and I thank you for posting it. Colton Cardell.
April 24, 2011 at 9:55 am
Bonnie Brown
With tears sgtreaming down my face I listened to this and was at once trand ansported to my 6th grade musci class in Charles Russell Elementary School in Great Falls, MT. My throat still tightens up when getting to the last line! I’ve sung this song often since then–and I’m 64–and have created my own flowered seat in my garden! thank you for posting the video!
April 24, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Anna
I am 65 and remember singing it in Jr. High Glee Club. Where can I get the music to download onto my computer and/or where can I get the piano sheet music?
April 24, 2011 at 8:47 pm
faithful
I don’t know the answer to your question, Anna. Many are curious and wish to find the copy. :-/
June 16, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Laurie
This morning I received a postcard from the Sower’s Chapel in Sarver, PA. It has a picture on it of our “Green Cathedral.” My father bought the land in the late 1950′s or in the early 1960′s. It’s on the top of a high hill that has a spectacular view. We started having occasional church services up there sometime in–perhaps– the early 1970′s. It’s very peaceful there and an area there is now a bit more level and planted with grass so it really is even more like a church. When the card came today, once again, “Green Cathedral” came to my mind. I’m so glad to hear the sheet music is available. I think I may have been the accompanist when we sang it for a choral concert in school in the 1960′s. I, too, think of it often. When I get a photo that I can post, I’ll try to do that. You’re all welcome to come to our Sower’s Chapel and to join us for a service anytime we’re up on the Knob! We had a very beautiful Memorial Day service there recently for the second year….choir, soloists, bagpipe, taps, honor guard, guest speaker, and a tribute with flag ceremony for a recently deceased neighborhood WWII veteran. And, it just happens that he was the owner of the other half of the knob so it was especially touching to our family and their family. Next time we have to sing “Green Cathedral.”
July 31, 2011 at 9:15 am
jan jan
This is one of my favorites. I guess I was lucky, I learned it in 4th grade, public school, where our teacher, Mrs Kelley, taught us to sing harmony. I still remember all the parts! LOL! BUT, I had forgotten some of the words. So thanks!
Today I live in a green cathedral, 4 acres, very naturalized, with pines and filled with azaleas and camellias.
September 11, 2011 at 12:30 am
Elyse aka. Flicker
As I was lying on my bed at Berkeley Tuolumne Camp looking up at the circle of trees above me, I remembered parts of this song, which we sang at Girl Scout camp many years ago. Now I am glad to see all of the words. Thanks for publishing the words.
October 9, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Anonymous
could anyone possibly tell me where I can get the sheet music to Green Cathedral? My grandmother taught me this in the early 1960s and I have remembered the words and tune, but would love to also have the music. llucien@agsd.us
December 13, 2011 at 9:58 pm
Anonymous
I love this song! I sang this in my grade school choir in the 5th and 6th grades way back in the late 1950′s. I remembered most of the lyrics and glad you have them posted online and recordings of it.
January 5, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Anonymous
Sang this at Mission Hill Jr. High School, Santa Cruz, CA in the late ’40′s. Miss Dablich was our chorale teacher. My personal green cathedral was located in a nearby redwood forest, which I always believed must have been the original inspiration for the composer.
I, too, would love to have the sheet music: candide@cox.net
January 12, 2012 at 4:18 pm
prayer group gets rolling
Remarkable things here. I’m very glad to see your post. Thank you so much and I’m having a look ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
April 21, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Mary Ellen Chance
Finally after 40 years I found and heard this song again! We sang it in junior high school choral class. We have a beautiful natural park here in Youngstown, Ohio–Mill Creek Park and I have woods behind my house with very old tall trees. Every time I walk in either place I remember that song, because these places are like a “Green Cathedral.” Thank you so much for publishing the words and music. They are like a long lost friend that I have just found again!
May 5, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Anonymous
Wonderful song from 1950s school choir. Here in Tennessee where I walk the trees do join hands above. Can anyone tell me where to get the sheet music?
anonymous
May 11, 2012 at 8:50 am
Glenn Turner
I love this song too. I often sing it to myself. Found it in a stack of my mother’s music around 1975. Now I’m a middle aged man and still love to sing it. I want to know who the composer is, their life story, what setting he or she had in mind.
Found it!
Here’s the link:
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/The-Green-Cathedral/1799362
love,
glenn
June 2, 2012 at 12:01 am
faithful
Thank you for sharing. I looked up the composer and learned he attended the Cincinnati Conservatory where my own music mentor/teacher graduated. She was a singer who lost her voice and needed surgery on her vocal cords. She ran the music program in our junior/senior high school and conducted the county choral society. She sometimes would drive me from school to our farm when I would help her with some preparation for the program. I loved her very much. Seems she must have known of the composer and that is why she introduced us to the song. We sang it for state competition when I was in Jr. High school. I think of the song often and realize now
that many other people do too!
June 1, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Florence Roessler
71 years ago my twin sister and I learned this song in the Presbyterian Church and sang it at the Mount Herman, CA Christian conferences. In our town was a ruined early 1800s Mission where she and I sang this wonderful song for our school friends and as the years went by and this Mission was completely restored by the State Park Service, we came from wherever we were on pilgrimages to sing it for our combined seven children and husbands, Those children remember to this day with rare memories of their mother’s love. I Know A Green Cathedral was and is a very important part of our lives.
I am past my 85th birthdate and still the memories are clear.
Forever together, Florance and Flora
June 1, 2012 at 11:51 pm
faithful
What a lovely sharing. Thank you for stopping to listen and read and for sharing your story.
June 2, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Barbara Trammell
Florance is my big sister…I never knew about this.. what wonderful memories for her. What a beautiful melody. ..