Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn |
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| Location | Castle and Bridge Street, Lisburn |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Churchmanship | Low Church Evangelical |
| Website | www.lisburncathedral.org |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 1708 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Connor |
| Province | Province of Armagh |
Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn, also known as Lisburn Cathedral, is an important church in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. It serves as the main church for the Diocese of Connor within the Church of Ireland.
This cathedral is one of two cathedrals in the Diocese of Connor. The other is St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast. The current building of Lisburn Cathedral began construction in 1708. It was built after an earlier church on the same spot was destroyed by fire.
A special feature of the cathedral is its gallery seating inside the main area, called the nave. It also has a unique octagonal spire. At about 55 meters (181 feet) tall, it is the highest building in Lisburn.
Contents
History of Lisburn Cathedral
Early Beginnings and Rebuilding
A church was first built on this site in the early 1600s. Sir Fulke Conway had it built as a chapel for his new castle. At that time, the area was called Lisnagarvey. The church was officially opened in 1623 and was named St Thomas's.
However, in 1641, a rebellion caused a lot of damage in the town. The church was destroyed along with many other buildings. But people quickly rebuilt it.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1662, King Charles II gave the church a new title. St Thomas's became the main cathedral for the United Diocese of Down and Connor. It was then renamed Christ Church Cathedral. More seating was added in 1674, with access through a bell tower.
Sadly, the cathedral burned down a second time in 1707. But once again, it was rebuilt quickly. Construction started on August 20, 1708, and finished in 1719. The new building kept the gallery seating in the nave, and the old tower survived the fire.
Later Additions and Changes
Over the years, more parts were added to the cathedral. The tall, eight-sided spire was built in 1804. A new part of the church, called the chancel, was added and officially opened in 1889.
More recently, in 2003, the front gates of the cathedral were replaced. These gates dated back to 1796. In 2004, the clock chimes were repaired so they could ring clearly again.
A Historical Event in 1914
On July 31, 1914, a small explosion happened at the Cathedral. This caused one of the oldest stained glass windows to break. This event was linked to a group of women called Suffragettes. They were protesting to gain the right for women to vote.
Four women were arrested after the incident. They had to be protected by the police because some local residents were upset. The government even suggested raising local taxes to pay for the damage. However, no charges were pressed because World War I began shortly after. The women were released by order of the government.
