St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher
St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher
Location	Clogher, County Tyrone
Country	Northern Ireland
Denomination	Church of Ireland
Architecture
Architect(s)	James Martin
Completed	1744
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Clogher
Province	Province of Armagh

St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher is an important church in Northern Ireland. It's one of two main cathedrals for the Church of Ireland in the Diocese of Clogher. The other one is St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen. You can find this cathedral in the small village of Clogher, in County Tyrone. This beautiful building was designed by an architect named James Martin in 1744.

A Look Back in Time

The story of Clogher's church goes way back to around 490 AD. People believe that St. Macartan started a monastery and a bishop's area here. He did this because St. Patrick asked him to.

Over the years, the church building changed many times:

• In 1041, the church was rebuilt and named after St. Macartan.
• It was built again in 1295 by Matthew M'Catasaid, who was the Bishop of Clogher.
• Sadly, in 1396, a big fire destroyed the church. It also burned down two chapels, the abbey (a type of monastery), the bishop's court, and many other buildings.
• In 1610, King James I took control of the abbey and its money. He gave it to the Diocese of Clogher.
• The building you see today was finished in 1744. It stands on the same spot where the older churches once were.

Important People Buried Here

Some important people from the church's history are buried at St Macartan's Cathedral. These include:

• Brian Mac Cathmhaoil (died 1358): He was a Bishop of Clogher. He passed away in 1358.
• Art Mac Cathmhaoil (died 1432): Another Bishop of Clogher, he was known for being a very kind man. He offered a place for the poor and those in need to stay.
• Robert Leslie (died 1672): He was also a Bishop of Clogher.