Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned |
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Western façade of the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned.
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| 36°08′23″N 5°21′13″W / 36.139672°N 5.35366°W | |
| Location | 215 Main Street |
| Country |  Gibraltar |
| Denomination | Catholic (Latin) |
| Website | Gib Cathedral |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Iglesia de Santa Maria la Coronada y San Bernado |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 20 August 1462 |
| Founder(s) | Catholic Monarchs |
| Dedication | St. Mary the Crowned |
| Dedicated | 20 August 1462 |
| Consecrated | 20 August 1462 |
| Past bishop(s) | See list of bishops |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Various |
| Architectural type | Mixed |
| Style | Mixed |
| Completed | 1931 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of domes | 1 |
The Cathedral of Saint Mary the Crowned is a very important Catholic church in Gibraltar. It is the main place for Catholic worship in the area. This beautiful building has a long and interesting history, going back many centuries. It stands on Main Street and is a key landmark in Gibraltar.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Building a New Church: The 15th Century
The original building of the current cathedral was built a long time ago, during the Spanish period. After the city was taken back from the Moors, the main mosque was changed into a Christian church. It was named Santa Maria la Coronada y San Bernardo.
Later, under the rule of the Catholic Monarchs, the old building was taken down. A completely new church was then built in the Gothic style. You can still see a small courtyard at the cathedral today. This courtyard is a small part of the much larger Moorish court that belonged to the original mosque. The Catholic Monarchs' coat of arms was placed in this courtyard. It is still there for everyone to see.
Changes Over Time: 18th to 20th Centuries
The church of St. Mary the Crowned was the only Catholic building that was not damaged when troops took over the city in 1704. Its pastor, Juan Romero, his assistant, and the bell-ringer protected it. This means that Catholic worship has happened here without stopping since the city became Christian again.
The church was badly damaged during the Great Siege from 1779 to 1783. In 1790, the governor of Gibraltar, Sir Robert Boyd, offered to rebuild the cathedral. In return, he asked for some of the land the church stood on. This land was needed to make Main Street straighter.
The street was changed in 1801, and the church was rebuilt in 1810. A clock tower was added in 1820. Later, in 1931, more restoration work was done on the cathedral. The front of the building you see today was built then, replacing an older one.
In 1881, there was a disagreement about who should lead the church. The governor of Gibraltar sent police to help Bishop Canilla enter his own church. Some people had tried to take control of the church and put their own leader in charge. Bishop Canilla went to the church with police protection and was able to take his place. The governor also made sure that the Bishop officially owned the church.
Until the 19th century, people who died in Gibraltar could be buried under the cathedral floor. Bishops are buried in a special underground room called a crypt. This crypt is located beneath the statue of Our Lady of Europe.
In 1943, the coffin of Władysław Sikorski rested here. This happened after his plane crashed into the sea near Gibraltar.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María la Coronada para niños
- San Roque, Cádiz (The original statue of St Mary was moved there in 1704, following the British takeover of Gibraltar)
Gallery
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The exterior of the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned. The statue of the soldier outside the cathedral is a gift from the Corps of the Royal Engineers to commemorate the formation in Gibraltar of the Company of Soldier Artificers in 1772, which later became the Royal Engineers in 1856.
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Old photograph of Main Street showing part of the cathedral's façade to the left. Picture from the book Gibraltar - John L. Stoddard's Lectures (1912), by John L. Stoddard. It shows the old façade built in 1810.
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Entrance to the cathedral's courtyard.
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View of the cathedral's altar.
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Stained-glass window in the cathedral.
