Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne |
|
|---|---|
| North Cathedral / North Chapel / St Mary's Cathedral | |
|
Ardeaglais Naomh Muire agus Naomh Áine
|
|
 |
|
 Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne
Location in Cork Central
|
|
| 51°54′17″N 8°28′34″W / 51.9047°N 8.4762°W | |
| Location | Cork, County Cork |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | https://corkcathedralfop.ie/parishes/the-cathedral |
| History | |
| Status | In Use |
| Consecrated | 22 August 1808 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John Benson |
| Style | Neo Gothic |
| Completed | 1869 (tower) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Cathedral |
| Archdiocese | Cashel and Emly |
| Diocese | Cork and Ross |
The Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Anne (Irish: Ardeaglais Naomh Muire agus Naomh Áine) is a very important Roman Catholic church in Cork, Ireland. People also call it Saint Mary's Cathedral or The North Cathedral. It is located at the top of Shandon Street. This cathedral is the main church for the Bishop of Cork and Ross. It is also known as the "mother church" for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross. Its name comes from two old church areas: St. Mary and St. Anne.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Anne is the main church for the Bishop of Cork and Ross. It also serves as the local church for areas like Blarney Street and Shandon. Church records for baptisms go all the way back to 1731.
Building the First Cathedral
The construction of the cathedral began in 1799. It was built where an older church from the 1730s used to stand. Bishop Francis Moylan was in charge when the building started. The cathedral was officially opened on August 22, 1808. Archbishop Thomas Bray of Cashel led the dedication ceremony.
Damage and Rebuilding
In 1820, the cathedral was badly damaged by a fire. George Richard Pain was the architect who helped fix it. He made the church bigger and added a special arch. The cathedral was able to open its doors again in 1828.
Modern Updates in the 1960s
Major changes happened at the cathedral starting in 1965. Bishop Cornelius Lucey asked for these updates. A new tower and a larger area for the altar were added. They also built a special chapel for funerals and other rooms. The inside of the church was made simpler. These changes followed new rules from the Second Vatican Council. The work was finished by 1968.
Renovations in the 1990s
More big renovations took place between 1994 and 1996. The tower and altar area were updated and made new. Some old altars and railings were removed. Confessionals (small rooms for confessions) were also taken out to make space for shrines. The roof got new slates, and the beautiful gothic ceiling was fixed. The outside stone walls were also repaired. During this time, the church was closed. People went to nearby convents for mass. The current altar and other important pieces were made by Tom Glendon. Many beautiful artworks were created by Cork artists. James Scanlon made the colorful stained glass windows. Patrick Pye created the modern art in the Lady Chapel. Bishop Michael Murphy reopened the cathedral on September 29, 1996.
Recent Milestones
The cathedral celebrated its 200th birthday in September 2008. In 2017, a visitor center opened under the church. It offers tours and shows exhibitions about Cork's local stories.
Cathedral Architecture
The Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Anne is built in an early Neo-Gothic Revivalist style. This means it looks like older Gothic churches. It uses a mix of sandstone and limestone for its walls. The tall tower above the main entrance was added in 1869. It was designed by architect John Benson.
Inside the Cathedral
The first altar was made of wood by Italian artists in Lisbon. In 1821, a sculptor named John Hogan carved 27 wooden statues. These statues were placed behind the main altar. They were hidden away in the 1960s and thought to be lost. But in the 1990s, they were found again! Now, you can see them high up in the nave (the main part of the church).
The Bells of the Tower
The tower has nine bells. They were made in 1870 by John Murphy in Dublin. These bells were originally set up for "change-ringing," a special way of ringing bells. For a while, the bells were not working well. However, they were fully restored in December 2022 and can now be rung again.
Modern Interior Design
The inside of the cathedral was redesigned in 1996 by Richard Hurley & Associates. It has a bright, modern look with white limestone.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María y Santa Ana (Cork) para niños
