Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork |
|
|---|---|
| Cathedral Church of Saint Fin Barre | |
|
Ardeaglais Naomh Fionnbarra
|
|
West façade
|
|
 Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork
Location in Cork Central
|
|
| 51°53′40″N 8°28′50″W / 51.8944°N 08.4806°W | |
| Location | Bishop Street, Cork, T12 K710 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| History | |
| Dedication | Fin Barre of Cork |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | William Burges |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1865 |
| Completed | 1879 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 13 (1870, reinstalled 2008) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Cork, Cloyne and Ross |
| Province | Dublin |
Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral (which in Irish is Ardeaglais Naomh Fionnbarra) is a beautiful church in the city of Cork, Ireland. It has three tall, pointed towers called spires. This church belongs to the Church of Ireland.
The cathedral is on the south side of the River Lee. It is named after Finbarr of Cork, who is the special patron saint of Cork city. People have used this spot for Christian worship since the 600s. Back then, Finbarr of Cork supposedly started a monastery here.
The first church building on this site lasted until the 1100s. It might have been destroyed during the Norman invasion. Around 1536, during a time of big changes in religion called the Protestant Reformation, the church became part of the official state church. This church is now known as the Church of Ireland.
The building before the current one was built in the 1730s. However, many people thought it looked very plain and boring. So, in the mid-1800s, it was decided to knock it down and build a new, grander cathedral.
Work on the new cathedral started in 1863. It was the first big project for a famous Victorian architect named William Burges. He designed almost everything you see today. This includes the building's shape, the sculptures, the colourful stained glass windows, the floor designs, and even the furniture inside. The first stone of Saint Fin Barre's was placed in 1865. The cathedral was officially opened in 1870, and its tall spires were finished by October 1879.
Saint Fin Barre's is mostly built from local stone. This stone came from places like Little Island and Fermoy. The outside of the cathedral has three spires. Two are at the front (west side), and one is above the main part of the church, where the nave meets the transept. Many of the outdoor sculptures, like the gargoyles, were made by Thomas Nicholls. The entrances have figures of many Bible characters. Above them, a carved stone panel called a tympanum shows a scene of people rising from the dead.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Who was Finbarr of Cork?
.jpg)
The cathedral stands on Holy Island, south of the River Lee. This area was once part of a large marsh. Saint Fin Barre's is built on the spot where at least two older churches once stood. Both of these churches were also named after Finbarr of Cork. He is the patron saint of Cork city. He also founded a quiet religious retreat, or hermitage, at Gougane Barra.
Finbarr was born around the year 550. Legend says he was given Gougane Barra as a place to think and pray. He also visited Cork city to start the "one true Christian faith" there. People believe that after Finbarr died, his body was brought to Cork. It was placed in a special shrine near where the cathedral is today.
Archaeologists think the first church on this site was built around the 600s. It had a church building and a tall, round tower. This building lasted until the 1100s. After that, it was either left unused or destroyed during the Norman invasions.
Older Churches on the Site
In 1644, someone wrote about the site. They mentioned an "old tower" in Cork that was very tall. People believed it was built by Saint Finbarr. This building was badly damaged in 1690 during a fight called the siege of Cork. Only the steeple was left standing after a fire and a cannonball hit it. This cannonball was found when the old church was pulled down in 1865. You can see it in the cathedral today.
The church was completely taken down in 1735. A smaller building replaced it that same year. This was part of a big project to build and fix things across the city. Only the spire from the older church was kept for the new building.
People in 1862 described the older part of this church as being in the Doric style. It was attached to a plain, modern tower with a "badly shaped" spire. Many thought the building was poorly designed. One newspaper called it "a shabby apology for a cathedral which has long disgraced Cork." Another said it was "a plain, massive, dull, tasteless, oblong pile." It was demolished in 1865 to make way for the current grand building.
The 19th-Century Cathedral
In April 1862, the Church of Ireland wanted a bigger, more beautiful cathedral. They wanted to show their strength after some old laws had changed. They started a competition to find a design for a new building. This became the first cathedral built in the British Isles since London's St Paul's.
In February of the next year, the designs by architect William Burges were chosen. He was 35 years old at the time. Burges ignored the budget of £15,000. He created a design that he thought would cost twice as much. Even though other architects complained, his design won. He wrote in his diary, "Got Cork!"
The first stone was laid on January 12, 1865. The cathedral was still unfinished when it was officially opened in 1870 by Bishop John Gregg. The spires were completed in 1879, but smaller jobs continued for many years.
Burges used some of his older ideas for the outside of the cathedral. These were designs he had made for other churches that were never built. The biggest problem was money. Even with lots of fundraising, Cork couldn't afford a huge cathedral. Burges helped with this by designing a building with three spires. This made the cathedral look bigger to people seeing it. He knew early on that the building would cost much more than the city had raised.
Bishop Gregg saw how good Burges's design was. He supported Burges and helped find more money. Gregg was very important in getting extra funds. Local business people, like William Crawford from the Crawford brewing family, also helped. The final cost was over £100,000. Bishop Gregg died before the cathedral was finished. His son, Robert, continued his father's support. In 1879, he placed the last stone on the eastern spire.
The cathedral has a book that lists the costs for decorating the west front. Burges was paid 10 percent for his design, which was more than usual. This was because he was so involved in every detail. It took seven years before the first church service was held in 1870. Building, carving, and decorating continued into the 1900s, even after Burges died in 1881.
Experts David Lawrence and Ann Wilson say Saint Fin Barre's is "undoubtedly [Burges's] greatest work." They describe the inside as "overwhelming and intoxicating." Burges was very skilled and managed his team well. Even though he spent much more than planned, he created a building that is "a monument to the Almighty's praise."
Recent Times
Burges knew the cathedral might not be finished in his lifetime. So, he made detailed plans for its decoration and furniture. These plans are in his Book of Furniture and Book of Designs.
At the end of the 1900s, a big restoration project costing £5 million took place. This included fixing the two trumpets held by the resurrection angel. These had been damaged in 1999. The restoration also involved cleaning and repairing the outside of the building. Some of Burges's gargoyles were re-carved because they were too damaged to fix. The cathedral's heating system was also replaced. It was found to be harming the detailed mosaic floor.
In 2006, Lawrence and Wilson published the first detailed book about the cathedral. It is called The Cathedral of Saint Fin Barre at Cork: William Burges in Ireland. The cathedral is one of three cathedrals in the Anglican Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. The other two are Saint Colmán's Cathedral in Cloyne and Saint Fachtna's Cathedral in Rosscarbery.
Important people buried in the graveyard include Archbishop William Lyon (died 1617) and Richard Boyle (died 1644). Also, in a family tomb, is the first "Lady Freemason," Elizabeth Aldworth (died around 1773–1775).
What Does the Outside Look Like?
Building Style
The cathedral's style is Gothic Revival. This was Burges's favourite style. He even used it for his own home in London. He reused parts of designs he had made for other cathedrals that were never built.
The main part of the building is made mostly from limestone found near Cork. The inside walls are made from stone from Bath, England. The red marble came from Little Island, and the purple-brown stone came from Fermoy.
Each of the three spires has a Celtic cross on top. This is a nod to Saint Patrick. Both Irish Catholics and Protestants see him as an important figure from the past. Adding these crosses was a way to show Irish identity. However, Burges actually wanted weather vanes instead. The building committee disagreed. They wanted the church to "retain the continuity with the one true faith of the ancient past."
The tower on the northwest side holds a set of twelve bells. There is also an extra bell, making a total of 13 bells. Originally, eight bells were put in the tower around 1752 or 1753. They were made by Abel Rudman in Gloucester, England. The bells were taken down in 1865 before the old cathedral was demolished. They were put back before the new cathedral opened in 1870. But at that time, the towers and spires were not yet fully built. So, the bells were hung too low and couldn't be rung properly.
In 1902, people tried to raise money to fix the bells. The next year, they were hung higher up on a steel frame. In 2007, this frame rusted. When it was replaced, four new bells were added in 2008. Many of the bells have been remade over time, and all were fixed up in 2008.
Building the spires was very difficult and expensive. It cost £40,000 early on, and another £60,000 by the time they were finished. Several different builders worked on them. The Cork builder John Delaney finally finished the main and two smaller spires by the end of 1877.
Sculptures and Carvings
A local stonemason estimated in 1881 that Burges designed about 844 sculptures for the outside and 412 for the inside. In total, there are about 1,260 sculptures. This includes 32 gargoyles, each with a different animal head. Burges oversaw almost every part of the design. He worked from his office in London and visited the site many times.
Most experts agree that his control over the architecture, statues, stained glass, and inside decorations made the cathedral's style very unified. He thought sculpture was a "must-have part of architectural effect." He believed he was working on something that hadn't been tried since the front of Wells Cathedral. Burges worked closely with Thomas Nicholls. Nicholls made each figure in plaster. Then, local stonemasons carved almost all the sculptures right on the building.
Burges's designs for the front (western side) were based on old French religious art. He thought this front was the most important outside part. It would be lit by the setting sun, making it look very dramatic. The main idea here is The Last Judgement. You can see figures of the twelve Apostles holding things that show how they died. There are also the Wise and the Foolish Virgins. You can also see the Resurrection of the Dead and the Beasts of The Evangelists.
The shiny copper "resurrection angel" on the main spire faces east. It is the most famous part of the cathedral in Cork. People often call it the "goldie angel." Burges designed it and put it up in 1870 as a free gift to the city. He did this because Cork was willing to pay for his original grand design. It was placed where a metal cross was supposed to be.
.JPG)
The pictures on the tympanum come from the Book of Revelation. God and angels are on the top part, and people are below. It shows an angel with John the Evangelist measuring the temple in Jerusalem. Below them, dead people are rising from their graves. A Victorian writer named Charles Eastlake said these sculptures were some of the best decorative carvings made during that time.
Burges found it hard to get some of his first ideas for the sculptures and stained glass approved. His changed designs were looked at in 1869 but were rejected again. Both Bishop Gregg and the dean, Arthur Edwards, supported Burges. They moved the decision to a smaller committee. Even though one person kept disagreeing, the changed designs were finally approved.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
What Does the Inside Look Like?
Layout and Height
The cathedral's layout is traditional. The front (west side) has three doors that lead into the nave. The nave has arched ceilings, rows of arches, a middle walkway, and upper windows. It rises to a wooden roof. Beyond the nave are the pulpit, the choir area, the bishop's throne, and the altar. These end in a curved walkway called an ambulatory.
Some people criticized the small size of the church. It is relatively short at 180 feet. However, it has all the usual parts of a larger cathedral. One critic said it made the building look "exceedingly short, and disproportionately high." But even though it's not huge, its clever design makes the most of the small space. The three spires also help make the inside feel bigger.
Main Features Inside
Burges designed most of the inside. This includes the mosaic floor, the altar, the pulpit, and the bishop's throne. The main part of the church, the nave, is narrow and unusually tall. It is made of red and purple-brown marble. Large columns support the central tower and spire.
The outside of the cathedral looks very large. However, the inside is smaller. The choir, sanctuary, and ambulatory take up almost half of the floor space. The inside is full of colour, especially from the stained glass windows. This is very different from the plain, grey outside.
The round pulpit is near the entrance. It was finished in 1874 but not painted until 1935. Like the baptismal font, it stands on four carved legs. It has five stone figures carved in relief. These are thought to be the four evangelists and Paul the Apostle. Paul is shown sitting on an upside-down "pagan" altar. There is also a winged dragon below the reading stand.
The baptismal font is also near the entrance. Its edge has a carving of the head of John the Baptist. The bowl of the font is made of red Cork marble. It is supported by a red marble stem and a base with eight sides. Brass letters on it say, "We are buried with Him by baptism into death."
The lectern (reading desk) is made of solid brass. Burges first designed it for another cathedral. It is decorated with the heads of Moses and King David. There is also a "Heroes Column" (a War Memorial) near the Choir. It lists the names of 400 men from the area who died in the First World War. A special cross, made in 1974, is in front of the Dean's chapel.
The 46-foot 'Great Oak Throne' for the Bishop of Cork was put in place in 1878. Next to it are a statue of Finbarr of Cork and a kneeling angel.
Stained Glass Windows
Burges planned all the stained glass windows. He designed each of the 74 window panels and watched over every step of their making. Because of this, all the windows have a similar style and tell a story in order. The designs were drawn by Horatio Walter Lonsdale. The windows were made in London between 1868 and 1869.
Some people had religious objections to certain figures, especially of Christ. This caused a four-year delay. The windows were finally put in between 1873 and 1881. Four windows are still not finished. Lonsdale's original drawings are kept at the cathedral.
Many of the figures are from Christian stories. They are similar to those on the tympanum. For example, in the ambulatory, a window shows God as the King of Heaven looking over the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In this panel, Matthew looks like a human, Mark is a lion, Luke is an ox, and John is an eagle. Like other parts of the cathedral, the pictures can be divided into divine, wise, and foolish themes.
The story starts and ends with two round windows called rose windows. One is at the west front, and the other is in the south transept. The west rose window shows God as the creator, resting on a rainbow and giving a blessing. He is surrounded by eight sections. Each section is inspired by scenes from the Book of Genesis. It starts with the creation of light and ends with the birth of Eve and Adam naming the animals.
The south transept rose window is called the "Heavenly Hierarchies." It shows Christ the King in the middle. The sections around him have different angels, archangels, and cherubim. Separate pieces of glass showing building tools are placed between each angel section.
The nave windows have signs of the Zodiac. Each tall, narrow window by the arches has a plain grey panel. These scenes are mostly from the Old Testament. The windows from the transepts onwards show prophets who predicted Christ's coming, or scenes from the New Testament. The upper windows above the main altar show Christ ruling from his cross. He is with His Mother, John, the Three Marys, and other followers. The windows around the ambulatory show scenes from the life of Christ. They end with a picture of heaven at worship from the Book of Revelation.
The Pipe Organ
The large organ was built in 1870 by William Hill & Sons. It had three keyboards, over 4,500 pipes, and 40 different sounds. The main organ used air pressure to make sounds. It was ready for the cathedral's grand opening on Saint Andrew's Day, 1870. It was first placed in the west gallery (balcony). But in 1889, it was moved to the north transept. This was done to make the sound better, create more space, and keep it from blocking the view of the windows. That year, a 14-foot deep hole was dug in the floor next to the nave for the organ's new spot.
Keeping the organ working has been one of the most expensive parts of the cathedral's upkeep. It was fully checked and fixed in 1889 by a Cork company. They added three new sounds. In 1906, another company added a fourth keyboard. By this time, the organ worked entirely with air pressure. In 1965–1966, a London company fixed the soundboards. They also put in a new control panel and changed the pitch of the sound.
By 2010, the organ's electrical parts were not working well. Trevor Crowe was hired to rebuild it and add more pipes. He also improved the sound. This project cost €1.2 million and took three years to finish.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Finbar para niños
