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 cathedral churches for the Church of Ireland in the Diocese of Clogher. The other is St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher. This beautiful cathedral stands on high ground, looking over the town of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. It is part of the Church of Ireland's Armagh province.
The church building was finished in 1842. It 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 (45 meters) high. Inside the tower, there are ten bells that can play different tunes. The cathedral also has a large organ with many different sounds.
The main leaders of the Clogher Diocese, called the dean and chapter, have their special seats in this cathedral. They also have seats in the older cathedral in Clogher.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Early Beginnings
The very first church building on this spot was completed around 1627. It was built as part of the original town of Enniskillen by Sir William Cole. By 1832, this old building was not safe to use anymore.
Building the Current Church
The current church building replaced the old one. It was finished in 1842. Later, in 1889, the front part of the church, called the chancel, was made larger. In 1923, the church was officially renamed St Macartin's Cathedral. This made it the second cathedral for the Clogher Diocese.
Royal Visit and Special Services
On June 26, 2012, Queen Elizabeth II visited the cathedral. She attended a special service to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. This was a big event for the cathedral and the town. The service was led by Kenneth Hall, who was the Dean of Clogher. The main speech was given by Alan Harper, the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh.
An important part of the service was when Peter Robinson read a lesson. He was the First Minister of Northern Ireland at the time. Prayers were also read by leaders from different churches. These included the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Seán Brady, who was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, and Roy Patton from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
After the service, the Queen walked to St Michael's Catholic church nearby. There, she met people from local community groups. This was the first time Queen Elizabeth II had visited a Catholic church in Northern Ireland.
Celebrating 400 Years
In March 2023, the cathedral celebrated a very special milestone. It marked 400 years of worship on its site. A special service was held to celebrate this long history. Important church leaders attended, including the Bishop of Clogher and the Dean of Clogher. Archbishop John McDowell, who is the Primate of All Ireland, also attended. A reading was given by Viscount Brookeborough, who is the Lord Lieutenant of Fermanagh.
See also
- Dean of Clogher
