Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne |
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| North Cathedral / North Chapel / St Mary's Cathedral | |
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Ardeaglais Naomh Muire agus Naomh Áine
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 Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne
Location in Cork Central
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| 51°54′17″N 8°28′34″W / 51.9047°N 8.4762°W | |
| Location | Cork, County Cork |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| 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), also known as Saint Mary's Cathedral or The North Cathedral, is a large Roman Catholic church in Cork, Ireland. It sits at the top of Shandon Street. This cathedral is the main church for the Bishop of Cork and Ross. It is also the most important church in 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 serves two main purposes. It is the main church for the Bishop of Cork and Ross. It also acts as the local parish church for areas like Blarney Street, Shandon, and Blackpool. Church records for baptisms go all the way back to 1731.
Building the First Cathedral
The cathedral was built when Bishop Francis Moylan was in charge. Construction started in 1799. It was built on the same spot where an older church from the 1730s once stood. The new cathedral was officially opened on August 22, 1808. Archbishop Thomas Bray of Cashel led the opening ceremony.
Damage and Rebuilding
Sadly, the cathedral was badly damaged by a fire in 1820. George Richard Pain was the architect who took on the job of fixing it. He made the church bigger and added a special arch. The cathedral was able to open its doors again in 1828.
Modern Changes and Updates
Major changes began in January 1965. Bishop Cornelius Lucey asked for the cathedral to be made larger. A new tower and a new area for the altar were added. They also built a special chapel for funerals, a basement, and a room for the priests' robes. The inside of the church was made simpler and reorganized. This followed new rules from the Second Vatican Council, which was a big meeting of Catholic leaders. These updates were finished by 1968.
The most recent big changes happened between 1994 and 1996. The tower and altar area were cleaned up and improved. The main altar and other altars were removed. Confessionals (small rooms for confession) were also taken out to make space for shrines. The roof got new slates, and the old gothic ceiling was fixed. The outside stone walls were also repaired. During these works, the cathedral was closed. Church services were held in nearby convents.
The current altar, a special stand for readings, and the tabernacle (where the Eucharist is kept) were made by Tom Glendon. The wooden statue of St Joseph the Worker, the shrine of Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy, and the cross used in processions were made by Ken Thompson. The colorful stained glass windows in the Blessed Sacrament chapel were created by James Scanlon. The modern art in the Lady Chapel was done by Irish artist Patrick Pye.
Bishop Michael Murphy officially reopened and rededicated the cathedral on September 29, 1996. The cathedral celebrated its 200th birthday in September 2008. In 2017, a visitor center was opened under the church. It offers tours and shows exhibits about local stories and traditions.
Architecture and Design
The Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Anne was designed in an early Neo-Gothic Revivalist style. This means it looks like older Gothic churches but was built more recently. It uses two types of stone: sandstone and limestone. The tall tower over the main entrance was added in 1869. It was designed by John Benson.
Inside the Cathedral
The first altar was made of wood by skilled Italian workers in Lisbon. In 1821, 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 they were found again in the 1990s. Now, you can see them high up in the nave (the main part of the church).
The nine bells in Benson's tower were made in 1870 by John Murphy of Dublin. They were originally set up for a special way of ringing called "change-ringing." Over time, the bells stopped working well. They were fixed and restored in December 2022.
The modern inside of the cathedral, updated in 1996, was designed by Richard Hurley & Associates. It is finished with white limestone, giving it a bright and clean look.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María y Santa Ana (Cork) para niños
