Just outside Winchester, Virginia, David and Patti Hershey have created something extraordinary. Their home, Clarionwood, is a personal sanctuary shaped by their love for sacred music, Gothic architecture and the spiritual mission of Washington National Cathedral. From its soaring ceilings and peaceful gardens to a living room built around a custom organ, Clarionwood reflects decades of devotion and faith.
Enjoying the Cathedral in many ways
For many years, David and Patti made regular trips to the Cathedral, often bringing friends to experience the beauty of morning services and occasionally staying for Evensong. In more recent years, they’ve become dedicated members of the online congregation. Each week, they attend services from their music room via a high-resolution 3D television setup that David customized to simulate sitting in the nave. “You really feel part of it,” he said.
At the heart of their home is a cathedral-style Allen organ with 22 amplifiers and 36 speaker cabinets—modified to emulate the richness of English cathedral acoustics. On its console is inscribed Soli Deo Gloria—“To God alone be the glory”—a nod to J.S. Bach and a reflection of the humility with which they’ve lived and given. As David often says, most of what surrounds them at Clarionwood came together through grace, not grand planning.
Their deep appreciation for sacred music led them to include a gift to the Cathedral’s Great Organ in their estate plans years ago. When the organ renovation campaign launched, and as circumstances allowed, they began fulfilling that commitment during their lifetime—supporting what they see as a once-in-a-generation effort to preserve a national treasure. Their giving, David says, is rooted in a love of music and a belief in the Cathedral’s unique role: “The Cathedral is more than a beautiful building. It stands above the nation as a Christian witness. The music, the liturgy, the architecture—it all points to something beyond ourselves.”
Giving for future generations
David and Patti have been supporting the Cathedral now for more than 50 years. They want it to continue long into the future, offering future generations the chance to experience the joy they’ve found there, so they also decided to include the Cathedral in their estate plans.
In their garden is a replica of Winchester Cathedral, commemorating the founder of Winchester, Virginia, originally from Winchester, England. His home and museum are just a mile away. And inside, the sound of hymns—carefully chosen and deeply loved—continues to shape