St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh (Church of Ireland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Cathedral Church of St Patrick, Armagh |
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| Cathedral of the Diocese of Armagh and Metropolitan Cathedral of the United Provinces of Armagh and Tuam | |
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 The Cathedral Church of St Patrick, Armagh
Location in Northern Ireland
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| 54°20′52″N 6°39′22″W / 54.3478°N 6.6562°W | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www.stpatricks-cathedral.org |
| History | |
| Founded | AD 445 |
| Founder(s) | Saint Patrick |
| Dedication | Saint Patrick |
| Consecrated | AD 445 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Armagh |
| Province | Province of Armagh |
_Cathedral,_Armagh_(17),_November_2009.JPG)
St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh (Irish: Ardeaglais Phádraig, Ard Mhacha) is a famous church in Armagh, Northern Ireland. It belongs to the Church of Ireland. This cathedral is the main church for the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh. It is also the main church for the Diocese of Armagh.
People believe that St. Patrick himself started a stone monastery here in the 5th century. For many years, during the Middle Ages, this cathedral was the main church for the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh. This made it one of the most important churches in Gaelic Ireland.
In the 16th century, a big change happened called the Protestant Reformation. The Irish Church split into two groups: Protestants and Roman Catholics. The cathedral stayed with the Church of Ireland. Later, in the 1800s, a new Catholic cathedral was built in Armagh. It is also called St Patrick's Cathedral.
Contents
Discover the Cathedral's Long History
How the Cathedral Began
This cathedral has always been a very important religious place in Ireland. Stories say that Saint Patrick built a church on this spot in 445 AD. Before that, the hilltop might have been a special place for pagan worship.
By the 600s, it had become the most important monastery and school in northern Ireland. A whole town grew up around this religious settlement.
Key Moments in the Cathedral's Past
Brian Boru, a powerful High King of Ireland, visited Armagh in 1004. He recognized it as the most important church in Ireland. He even gave it a lot of gold! Brian Boru was buried here after he died in the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
The church building itself was damaged and rebuilt many times over the centuries. It was fixed up between 1505 and 1549 by Dean Eoghan McCawell. This was after a big fire in 1511. An important judge, Lord Chancellor Cusack, later called it "one of the fairest and best churches in Ireland." But by 1603, after the Nine Years' War, Armagh was in ruins.
During the Protestant Reformation, the cathedral became part of the Church of Ireland. It has been an Anglican church ever since the time of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Modern Changes and Rebuilding
After the Nine Years' War, the English took control of Armagh. Many Protestants from Britain moved there as part of the Plantation of Ulster. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, many Protestant settlers went to the cathedral for safety. Catholic rebels later took control of the town until May 1642.
The cathedral was greatly rebuilt between 1834 and 1840. Archbishop Lord John George Beresford and architect Lewis Nockalls Cottingham led this work. They kept much of the old medieval building. Many old carvings and details were carefully put back.
Inside the cathedral, you can see many old Celtic and medieval carvings. There are also beautiful sculptures from the 1700s and 1800s. These include works by famous artists like Francis Leggatt Chantrey and Louis-François Roubiliac.
The cathedral has a special choir called the Choral Foundation. It has been around for a very long time, since the time of the Culdees. Today, it still has a dozen adult singers and sixteen boy choristers.
In 2008, a special event called the Maundy Money distribution happened at the cathedral. A plaque inside the church remembers this day.
Famous People Buried Here
- Brian Boru (around 942–1014), a powerful High King of Ireland
- Saint Ethnea, who was baptized by St Patrick and died around 433 A.D.
- Marcus Gervais Beresford (1801–1885), an Archbishop of Armagh
- Charles Frederick D'Arcy (1859–1938), an Archbishop of Armagh
- Lord John Beresford (1773–1862), an Archbishop of Armagh
- John Baptist Crozier and his wife Alice Isabella
See also
- Dean of Armagh, a list of important church leaders
- List of cathedrals in Ireland
- St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh (Roman Catholic)
- List of tourist attractions in Ireland
