St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Archdiocese of Armagh)
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is in Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) and is part of the Archdiocese of Armagh.
It is dedicated to Saint Patrick.
| St. Patrick’s Cathedral | |
| [[File:|150px|center]] | |
| Dedication: | Saint Patrick |
| Type/Classification: | Territorial Parish |
| Non-Parochial: | No |
| Operated By: | Diocesan clergy |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Archdiocese of Armagh |
| Deanery: | Armagh Deanery |
| Address: | Cathedral Road, Armagh, BT61 7QY, Northern Ireland |
| Location: | |
| City: | Armagh |
| Subdivision: | Northern Ireland |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| County: | County Armagh |
| Website: | Website |
| Founded: | 1840 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | armaghparish@btconnect.com |
History
St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh, the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, began construction on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1840, with its foundation stone laid by Archbishop William Crolly. The site, on a hill overlooking the city, was chosen for its symbolic resonance with Armagh’s status as Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital, traditionally linked to St. Patrick’s founding of a church there in 445 AD. The cathedral’s construction, designed initially by Thomas J. Duff in a Perpendicular Gothic style, was interrupted by the Great Famine (1845-1848), diverting funds to relief efforts. Archbishop Crolly died of cholera in 1849 and was buried beneath the unfinished sanctuary. Work resumed in 1854 under Archbishop Joseph Dixon, who shifted to a Decorated Gothic design by J.J. McCarthy. The cathedral was dedicated on August 24, 1873, by Archbishop Daniel McGettigan, though interior work continued under Cardinal Michael Logue, culminating in its solemn consecration on July 24, 1904, attended by Cardinal Vincent Vannutelli representing Pope Pius X. Restoration in 2003 enhanced its interior, including a new Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Special features
- Decorated Gothic architecture, featuring twin spires, intricate mosaics, and stained-glass windows, largely by Meyer of Munich, installed under Cardinal Logue.
- Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, a focal point for devotion within the cathedral.
- Historical significance as the primatial seat of the Catholic Church in Ireland, reflecting its role post-Catholic Emancipation in 1829.
- Annual St. Patrick’s Day Mass, drawing pilgrims to honor the patron saint, celebrated with special liturgical events.
Related parishes
- St. Malachy’s Church – Part of the Armagh parish cluster, located in the city and sharing pastoral resources.
- Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tullysaran – Another parish church under the cathedral’s administration in the Archdiocese.