Dromore Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dromore Cathedral |
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Dromore Cathedral
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| Location | Dromore, County Down |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Website | http://www.dromorecathedral.co.uk/ |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1661 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Down and Dromore |
| Province | Province of Armagh |
Dromore Cathedral is a special church in Dromore, County Down, Northern Ireland. Its full name is The Cathedral Church of Christ the Redeemer, Dromore. It is one of two main churches, called cathedrals, in the Diocese of Down and Dromore for the Church of Ireland.
The building you see today was first built in 1661. It was started by a bishop named Jeremy Taylor. Over the years, the church has been made bigger several times. A large organ was added to the cathedral in 1871.
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History of Dromore Cathedral
Early Churches on This Site
The very first church here was built around the year 510. It was made by St Colman using simple materials like wattle and daub (a mix of sticks and mud). This early church was later replaced by a medieval church.
Sadly, this medieval church was destroyed in the late 1500s. A new church was built after that. In 1609, King James I officially made this church a "Cathedral Church of Christ the Redeemer." But this building was also destroyed in 1641.
Building the Current Cathedral
The church building that stands today was first constructed in 1661. Bishop Jeremy Taylor oversaw its construction. At first, it was a long, narrow church, about 30 meters (100 feet) long.
Over time, the cathedral was expanded:
- In 1811, Bishop Thomas Percy added a short aisle. This made the church floor plan look like an "L" shape.
- In 1870, a rounded area for the altar (called a sanctuary) and an organ room were added.
- Finally, in 1899, another aisle was built. This made the church a more traditional rectangular shape, similar to how it looks now.
Important People Buried Here
Several important people are buried at Dromore Cathedral. These include bishops who played a big part in the church's history.
- Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667): He was a bishop who helped build the current cathedral.
- Thomas Percy (bishop of Dromore) (1729–1811): He was also a bishop of Dromore and a famous poet known for his ballads.
- Members of the McColough family:
- Ann McColough (died 1790)
- William McColough (died 1790)
- James McColough (died 1793)
