Middlesbrough Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Mary's Cathedral, Middlesbrough |
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| Cathedral Church of Saint Mary | |
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 Saint Mary's Cathedral, Middlesbrough
Location in North Yorkshire
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| 54°31′22″N 1°12′49″W / 54.5227°N 1.2137°W | |
| OS grid reference | NZ509144 |
| Location | Middlesbrough |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | middlesbroughrccathedral.org |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Saint Mary the Virgin |
| Consecrated | 15 May 1988 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Cathedral |
| Previous cathedrals | Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Sussex Street |
| Architect(s) | Frank Swainston |
| Groundbreaking | 3 November 1985 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Middlesbrough |
| Province | Liverpool |
Saint Mary's Cathedral, also called Middlesbrough Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, England. It is the main church for the Bishop of Middlesbrough. This means it's where the bishop has his special chair (called a "cathedra"). The cathedral is part of the Diocese of Middlesbrough, which is a church area, and it belongs to the larger Archdiocese of Liverpool.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The first church that served as a cathedral was called the Cathedral Church of Our Lady Of Perpetual Succour. It was built between 1876 and 1878. This church was located on Sussex Street in an old part of Middlesbrough.
When it was first built, it was not a cathedral. It was a large church meant to hold 1,500 people. It served the local community. The area was then part of the Diocese of Beverley. The Diocese of Middlesbrough was not created until December 1878.
The first bishop of Middlesbrough, Richard Lacy, became bishop there in December 1879.
Moving to a New Location
In 1984, people learned that the old cathedral had serious problems with its structure. It might have to be torn down. However, because it was a special historic building (Grade II listed), it could not be easily demolished.
Also, many people had moved away from the old part of town. This meant the cathedral was becoming very isolated. So, a new cathedral building was needed. The new Saint Mary's Cathedral was built in a different area called Coulby Newham. Building work started in November 1985.
The old cathedral caught fire in May 2000. It was believed that children playing inside the building started the fire. The building was already in bad condition. Because of the fire damage, the old church was torn down soon after. Today, the Middlesbrough headquarters for Cleveland Police is on that site.
About Saint Mary's Cathedral
The first architect for the new cathedral in Coulby Newham was Frank Swainston. He passed away shortly after the main plans were agreed upon. His helper, Peter Fenton, then created the detailed drawings. He also designed the church's furniture and decorations. He finished this work with advice from J. O. Tarren and Professor Patrik Nuttgens.
The foundation stone for the new cathedral was blessed on November 3, 1985. This was done by Augustine Harris, who was the Bishop of Middlesbrough at the time. He later officially opened and blessed the cathedral on May 15, 1988.
The cathedral is a modern and bright building. It is similar in some ways to the Roman Catholic cathedral in Liverpool. The church complex includes the main worship area (the sanctuary), the main seating area (the nave), and a special chapel for the Blessed Sacrament. There is also a room for priests' robes (the sacristy), a church hall, and the entrance porch (the narthex). A bell tower (the campanile) is also part of the building.
Inside, you can also find a shop where you can buy religious items. These include rosary beads and cards. The cathedral was built to follow new rules from the Second Vatican Council. This council asked that all new churches have an altar that everyone can see clearly. It also wanted the church services to be heard easily by everyone.
Music at the Cathedral
Music is a very important part of services at Saint Mary's Cathedral.
Cathedral Organ
Dr. John Rowntree helped decide what kind of organ the cathedral needed. The organ was built by the Schumacher company in Belgium. It has two keyboards (manuals) and pedals. It also has 16 stops, which control the different sounds.
The organ's case is made of ash wood. This matches the other furniture in the cathedral. Its unique shape fits well with its spot off the center of the building. It also matches the lines of the roof inside. You can find more details about the organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Cathedral Choral Foundation
The cathedral has a special group called the Choral Foundation. This group looks after the music tradition of the cathedral. It is led by the Cathedral and Diocesan Director of Music. The choirs that are part of the Choral Foundation include:
- Cathedral Choir (which has older singers, music students, and adults)
- Cathedral Consort
- Upper Voices Consort
- Cathedral Junior Choristers
There is also a Diocesan Choir. This choir is made up of singers from all over the Diocese. They sing at big events for the Diocese. Even though it's not one of the main Cathedral Choirs, it often sings at the Cathedral. It has also started to sing more in other places across the Diocese.
Choral Service Pattern
Currently, the Cathedral Choir sings for the main Sunday morning service, called Solemn Mass. Choral Vespers and Benediction are held on Wednesday evenings. These services are led by the other choirs that are part of the Choral Foundation.
Other services at the cathedral also include music. However, these are usually led by an organist or a single singer (cantor).
Director of Music
- Mr. Timothy Craig Harrison (2010–2021)
- Mr. Steven Maxson (2022–present)
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María (Middlesbrough) para niños
