St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher is one of two cathedral churches in the
Diocese of Clogher (the other is
St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen) in the
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland (, ; , ) is a Christian church in Ireland, and an autonomy, autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the Christianity in Ireland, second-largest Christian church on the ...
. It is situated in the village of
Clogher, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh.
It was designed in 1744 by architect James Martin in a neo-classical style.
History
According to tradition a monastery and bishopric were founded in Clogher circa 490 by
St. Macartan on the orders of his friend
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick (; or ; ) was a fifth-century Romano-British culture, Romano-British Christian missionary and Archbishop of Armagh, bishop in Gaelic Ireland, Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Irelan ...
.
In 1041, the church of Clogher was rebuilt, and dedicated to the memory of St. Macartin. It was again rebuilt in 1295 by Matthew M'Catasaid,
Bishop of Clogher
The Bishop of Clogher (, ) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Clogher in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Following the Reformation, there are now parallel apostolic successions: one of the Church of Ireland and ...
, but burnt to the ground on 20 April 1396 along with two chapels, the abbey, the court of the bishops, and thirty-two other buildings with all their contents. In 1610 the abbey and its revenues were confiscated by King James I and given to the Diocese of Clogher.
The present building was erected on the site in 1744 and contains some fine stained-glass windows. Located near the church are the remains of two
high crosses and a five foot high sundial.
[Meehan, pg. 143.]
Burials
*Brian
Mac Cathmhaoil, Bishop of Clogher (1356–1358). He died of the
plague in 1358.
*Art Mac Cathmhaoil (Mac Cawell), Bishop of Clogher (1390–1432) a pious man, who had kept a
house of public hospitality for the
poor and indigent, died after penance in 1432.
*
Robert Leslie (died 1672),
Bishop of Clogher
The Bishop of Clogher (, ) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Clogher in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Following the Reformation, there are now parallel apostolic successions: one of the Church of Ireland and ...
See also
*
Dean of Clogher
References
Creating St Macartan's CathedralPhotographs of cathedral
{{Authority control
Clogher
Diocese of Clogher (Church of Ireland)
Grade A listed buildings