St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen

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St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen

Enniskillen, Fermanagh

Status: Cathedral
EnniskillenCathedral.jpg
St. Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen
Church of Ireland
Diocese of Clogher
Location
Grid reference: H23424424
Location: 54°20’47"N, 7°38’26"W
History
Built 1842, 1923
Gothic
Information
Website: enniskillencathedral.com

The Cathedral Church of St Macartin, Enniskillen, commonly known as Enniskillen Cathedral, is one of two cathedral churches in the Diocese of Clogher in the Church of Ireland; the other being St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher. It stands on high ground overlooking the town of Enniskillen, Fermanagh.

The cathedral 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 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 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 Roman Catholic 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 Roman Catholic church where she met representatives of local community groups.[3]

Outside links

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References


Cathedrals of the Church of Ireland

Province of Armagh: ArmaghClogherDerryDownpatrickDromoreElphinEnniskillenKillalaKilmoreLisburnRaphoeSligoTuamBelfast
Province of Dublin: CashelClonfertCloyneCorkDublin, Christ ChurchFernsKildareKilkennyKillaloeLeighlinLimerickLismoreRosscarberyTrimWaterfordDublin, St Patrick's
Former cathedrals:AchonryElphinEmly