St. Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen

St. Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen
St. Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen
Coordinates: 54°20′48″N 07°38′28″W / 54.34667°N 7.64111°W / 54.34667; -7.64111
Location Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh
Country  United Kingdom
 Northern Ireland
Denomination Church of Ireland
Website www.enniskillencathedral.com
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
Clergy
Bishop(s) Bishop John McDowell
Rector The Very Revd. Kenneth Hall
Dean The Very Revd Kenneth Hall
Curate(s) The Revd. Olivia Downey
Archdeacon The Venerable Brian Harper
Laity
Director of music Glenn Moore

St. Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen, is one of two cathedral churches in the Diocese of Clogher (the other is St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher) in the Church of Ireland. It stands on high ground overlooking the town of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh.

It was completed in 1842 as St. Anne's Parish Church but rededicated as St. Macartin's Cathedral in 1923. It incorporates elements of a former church building and has a 150-foot (45 m) tower and spire. The tower houses a peal of ten bells, which can also be chimed to play tunes. The three manual tracker action organ consists of thirty-three electro-mechanically operated speaking stops, together with full pedal board and enclosed swell and choir division.

The dean and chapter of Clogher have their stalls in this Cathedral and also at the senior Cathedral in Clogher.

History

Interior

The first church building on the site was completed around 1627 as part of the original building of the town of Enniskillen.[1] By 1832 that building had become structurally unsafe and was replaced by the present building, which was completed in 1842. The chancel was enlarged in 1889.

In 1923 the church was rededicated as St. Macartin's Cathedral, thus becoming the second cathedral of Clogher Diocese. It is complete with stalls in the choir for the Dean and Chapter of Clogher. The current pipe organ was installed in 1936 by Peter Conacher and Company and was rebuilt by the Abbey Organ Company in the early 1990s. In 1964 a suite of new halls together with a conference room was added and in 1970 part of the nave was converted into the Regimental Chapel of the Inniskilling Regiments.

On 26 June 2012, Queen Elizabeth II attended a thanksgiving service at the cathedral for her Diamond Jubilee. The service was led by the Kenneth Hall, the Dean of Clogher, the location was given by Alan Harper, the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh and the lesson was read by Peter Robinson, the First Minister of Northern Ireland. The intercession prayers were read by Ken Lindsay, the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland; Cardinal Seán Brady, the Archbishop of Armagh and Dr Roy Patton, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. [2] Following the service, the Queen made the short walk to St Michael’s Catholic church where she met representatives of local community groups. This was the first time that she had visited a Catholic church in Northern Ireland.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Cathedrals of the Church of Ireland" Day, J.G.F./ Patton, H.E. p31: London, S.P.C.K., 1932
  2. ↑ "HM Queen Elizabeth II Attends Diamond Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving at St Macartin's Cathedral". www.anglicannews.org. Anglican Communion Office. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Rayner, Gordon (26 June 2012). "Queen visits Catholic church in Northern Ireland". www.telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
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