St Anne's Cathedral - Belfast
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SMacB
N 54° 36.159 W 005° 55.749
30U E 310806 N 6054519
FDC issued 13 May 2008 featuring cathedrals from around the UK. The 48p stamp shows the interior of St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.
Waymark Code: WMV5M7
Location: Ulster, Ireland
Date Posted: 02/27/2017
Views: 4
FDC issued 13 May 2008 featuring cathedrals from around the UK. The 48p stamp shows the interior of St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.
"The foundation stone to Belfast Cathedral was laid in 1899 and the nave was consecrated in 1904. The Spire of Hope was added in 2006.
The Cathedral is a Romanesque building with five large pillars each side of the central nave with half pillars in the walls at either end; windows that are each a single huge light, mosaics in two ceilings and covering a tympanum above the west door and that above the entrance to the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Four archangels are carved high in the corners of the nave, an apse and ambulatory at the east end and massive round arches throughout the whole building.
The Chapel of the Holy Spirit, added in 1932, has stained glass windows relating to the activity of the Holy Spirit as described in the Bible.
On the opposite side of the Cathedral is the baptistery. The carvings are by Rosamund Praeger, who also designed the bronze plaque above Lord Carson’s tomb, the only person buried in the Cathedral.
The detailed nave pillar capitals, each with a different theme, were carved chiefly by Morris Harding, whilst the carving on the West façade is by Esmond Burton and is a memorial to those who lost their lives in 1914-1918 War.
The Cathedral’s mosaics of Italian glass are by sisters, Gertrude and Margaret Martin.
The Cathedral has many stained glass windows; the huge nave windows depict characters from the Old Testament, those in the ambulatory show some of the fruits of the Spirit, while the east window pictures the parable of the Good Samaritan. The central west window depicts Christ in glory. Modern windows are to be seen in the Chapel of Unity and the Royal Irish Regimental Chapel.
St Anne’s has some very fine needlework, including handcrafted kneelers and the Titanic Pall.
St Anne’s Cathedral now offers a state-of-the art audio guide.
The Cathedral is a sacred space and is open for worship and services outside of visiting hours. Anyone can come in freely at any time of the day for quiet and a place to pray. "
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