St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen |
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St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen
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| 54°20′48″N 07°38′28″W / 54.34667°N 7.64111°W | |
| Location | Enniskillen, County Fermanagh |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Anne's Parish Church |
| Dedication | Saint Macartan |
| Dedicated | 1923 |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1842 (as St Anne's Parish Church) |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 150 ft |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Clogher |
| Province | Province of Armagh |
St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen, is an important church in Northern Ireland. It is one of two main churches, called cathedrals, in the Diocese of Clogher for the Church of Ireland. The other cathedral is St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher.
This cathedral stands on a hill, looking over the town of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. It is part of the Armagh church area. The building was finished in 1842 and was first known as St Anne's Parish Church. Later, in 1923, it was renamed St Macartin's Cathedral.
The cathedral has parts of an older church building within it. It features a tall tower and a spire that reaches 150 feet (about 45 meters) into the sky. Inside the tower, there are ten bells that can be rung to play tunes. The church also has a large organ with many different sounds. Important church leaders, known as the dean and chapter of Clogher, have their special seats here and at the other cathedral in Clogher.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Early Beginnings
The very first church on this spot was built around 1627. This was part of the original plan for the town of Enniskillen, started by Sir William Cole. By 1832, that first church building was not safe to use anymore. So, a new building was constructed to replace it. The church you see today was completed in 1842. Later, in 1889, the chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, was made larger.
Becoming a Cathedral
A big change happened in 1923 when the church was officially renamed St Macartin's Cathedral. This made it the second cathedral for the Clogher Diocese. This means it became one of the two main churches for the area.
Royal Visit and Special Events
On June 26, 2012, Queen Elizabeth II visited the cathedral. She attended a special service to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, which marked 60 years as Queen. The service was led by Kenneth Hall, who was the Dean of Clogher.
Important leaders from different churches and the government were there. Alan Harper, the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh, gave the main talk. Peter Robinson, who was the First Minister of Northern Ireland, read a part from the Bible. Prayers were also read by leaders from the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Seán Brady, and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
After the service, the Queen walked to St Michael's Catholic church nearby. There, she met with people from local community groups. This was a special moment because it was the first time she had visited a Catholic church in Northern Ireland.
In March 2023, the cathedral celebrated a huge milestone: 400 years of worship on its site. A special service was held with the Bishop of Clogher, the Dean of Clogher, and Archbishop John McDowell. The Lord Lieutenant of Fermanagh, Viscount Brookeborough, also gave a reading during the service.
See also
- Dean of Clogher
