Inverness Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Cathedral |
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| The Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew | |
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Cathair-Eaglais Inbhir Nis
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St Andrew's Cathedral from Bishops Road
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 St Andrew's Cathedral
Location in Highland
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| 57°28′28″N 4°13′45″W / 57.47444°N 4.22917°W | |
| Location | Inverness |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Scottish Episcopal Church |
| Churchmanship | High Church |
| Website | www.invernesscathedral.org |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | Bishop Robert Eden |
| Dedication | St Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1866-1869 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Moray, Ross & Caithness |
Inverness Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, is a beautiful church located in Inverness, Scotland. It sits right by the River Ness. This cathedral is a very important church for the Scottish Episcopal Church in the area. It's where the Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness has his main church.
Inverness Cathedral is special because it's the most northerly cathedral still in use on mainland Britain. It was also the first new Protestant cathedral to be built in Great Britain since the time of the Reformation, which was a big change in religion many centuries ago.
Contents
About Inverness Cathedral
Building the Cathedral
The idea for Inverness Cathedral came from Bishop Robert Eden. He decided that Inverness would be the best place for the main church of the Moray, Ross and Caithness area. The first stone was laid in 1866 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is a very important church leader. The building was finished by 1869.
The architect who designed the cathedral was Alexander Ross, who lived in Inverness. The cathedral is built from a reddish stone called Tarradale stone. Inside, the tall columns in the main part of the church, called the nave, are made from Peterhead granite. The original plan included two very tall spires, but they couldn't be built because there wasn't enough money at the time.
Before the cathedral was built, the church community started as a small group in 1853 on the other side of the River Ness.
A Special Place
Inverness Cathedral is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture. This style brings back the look of medieval churches with pointed arches and detailed stonework. It's a place where people come to worship and also to admire the history and design.
The cathedral is dedicated to St Andrew, who is the patron saint of Scotland. It plays an important role in the local community and for visitors who want to learn about its history and see its unique features.
The Bells of the Cathedral
Inverness Cathedral has a set of ten bells. These bells are famous because they are the most northerly set of "change-ringing" bells in a church anywhere in the world! Change-ringing is a special way of ringing bells in a sequence to create music. The largest bell, called the tenor bell, is very heavy, weighing about 860 kilograms (17 cwt).
Gallery
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The nave looking south towards the choir
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The nave looking north towards the entrance
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The choir and altar
