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's the main place for Catholic worship in the area. Its Spanish name is Catedral de Santa María la Coronada.
Contents
Discover the History of Gibraltar's Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned has a long and interesting history. It has stood through many changes in Gibraltar.
How the Cathedral Began: The 1400s
The first building on this spot was a mosque. It was built when Moors ruled Gibraltar. After the city was taken back by Christian forces, the mosque was changed into a church. It was named Santa Maria la Coronada y San Bernardo.
Later, the Catholic Monarchs decided to build a new church. They tore down the old building. A beautiful new church was built in the Gothic style.
The small courtyard you see today was once part of the larger Moorish mosque court. The coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs is still there. The original church was much bigger. It even reached across what is now Main Street.
Changes Through the Centuries: 1700s to 1900s
The church of St. Mary the Crowned was special. It was the only Catholic building not damaged when troops took over Gibraltar in 1704. Its pastor, Juan Romero, and his helpers protected it. This means Catholic services have happened there without stopping since 1704.
The church was badly damaged during the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779–1783). In 1790, the governor, Sir Robert Boyd, offered to rebuild it. In return, he asked for some land to make Main Street straighter. The street was changed in 1801.
The church was rebuilt in 1810. This was also a chance to make Main Street wider. A clock tower was added in 1820. More restoration work happened in 1931. The front of the cathedral you see today was built then.
A Time of Trouble: 1881
In 1881, there was a big event at the church. The governor of Gibraltar sent police and soldiers to help Bishop Canilla. He was trying to enter his own church. A group of people called the "Committee of Elders" wanted to take control of the church. They wanted to put their own priest in charge.
On March 2, 1881, Bishop Canilla went to the church with police. They found about 200 men inside. The police had to arrest many people to bring order. After this, Bishop Canilla not only had his church back, but he also became its official owner. The governor made sure the church's ownership papers were given to him.
Burials and Important Events
For a long time, people who died in Gibraltar could be buried under the cathedral floor. Bishops are buried in a special room called a crypt. This crypt is beneath the statue of Our Lady of Europe.
In 1943, the coffin of Władysław Sikorski was placed here. He was a Polish general. 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)
Images for kids
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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.
