St Ninian's Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Ninian's Cathedral |
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| Cathedral Church of St Ninian | |
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Cathair-eaglais Naomh Ninian
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| Location | Perth |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Scottish Episcopal Church |
| Churchmanship | Broad church |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Ninian |
| Consecrated | 10 December 1850 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane |
St Ninian's Cathedral (Scottish Gaelic: Cathair-eaglais Naomh Ninian) is a special church in Perth. It is a cathedral for the Scottish Episcopal Church in the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane. Cathedrals are important churches where a bishop has their main seat.
Contents
The Story of St Ninian's Cathedral
After 1689, the Episcopal Church in Scotland was no longer the official church. Many of its old cathedrals were taken over by the Presbyterian Church or stopped being used.
Building the Cathedral
In 1848, two young Scottish nobles studying at Oxford University had an idea. They wanted to bring back cathedrals for the Episcopalians. They chose a famous architect named William Butterfield to design a new cathedral in Perth.
People donated money to build the church. Most of the money came from two important families, Lord Forbes and George Boyle. Enough money was raised to build the main part of the church, called the chancel, and part of the nave.
Opening Day
The first part of the cathedral was officially opened on 10 December 1850. The bishop of the area, Bishop Patrick Torry, was too old to lead the ceremony. So, another bishop, Alexander Penrose Forbes, took his place.
The people who paid for the church wanted to name it St John the Apostle's. But Bishop Torry decided to name it after Ninian. Saint Ninian was a very important person who brought Christianity to Scotland way back in the 400s.
Adding Stained-Glass Windows
In 1876, beautiful stained-glass windows were added to the east side of the church. These windows were designed by William Butterfield and made by Alexander Gibbs. They show a scene from the Bible, from the Book of Revelation.
Changes and Growth
The first leader of the cathedral, called the provost, led worship in a way that was very similar to Roman Catholic churches. This was not popular with the new bishop, Charles Wordsworth.
For the first 30 years, not many people came to the church. But in 1885, a new provost named Vincent Rorison arrived. More people started to attend, and they decided to finish building the cathedral.
The church was completed in 1890, following Butterfield's original plans. However, the tall towers at the west end were changed. The ground was too soft to support them without a lot of extra cost. All the new stained-glass windows added after this time were made by a company called Burlison and Grylls.
After Bishop Wordsworth passed away in 1892, Bishop George Howard Wilkinson took over. He hired John Loughborough Pearson, who designed Truro Cathedral, to make more changes. Work began in 1900, adding a Chapter House and a Lady Chapel. These were finished in 1908.
The Pulpit and Its Carvings
The pulpit is a raised platform where the priest gives sermons. The pulpit at St Ninian's Cathedral was carved in 1901 by Nathaniel Hitch. It has amazing carvings that tell stories.
The carvings show:
- St Cuthbert holding the head of King Oswald.
- St Kentigern preaching to workers.
- St Patrick speaking to Irish princesses.
- St Columba with King Brude.
Important Building Status
In 1965, St Ninian's Cathedral was given a special status. It was named a Category A listed building. This means it is a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
Cathedral Leaders (Provosts)
Some of the people who have led St Ninian's Cathedral as provost include Edward Fortescue. He resigned from his role in 1871.
See also
- List of Category A listed buildings in Perth and Kinross
- List of listed buildings in Perth, Scotland
- St John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Perth
