Showing posts with label Celtic cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celtic cross. Show all posts

13 July 2019

St Patrick and Down Cathedral Northern Ireland

Down Cathedral, Northern Ireland/ Geoff Sutton 2019

Down Cathedral, on English Street, atop Down Hill, is clearly visible above the town of Downpatrick, County Down, Ulster Province, Northern Ireland. 

Christians have worshipped here for about 1,600 years. It is also the traditional site for the burial of the British missionary, St Patrick, as well as Saints Brigid and Columba (also called Columbkille, Colmcille).

The current Cathedral has been rebuilt on the site of an old Benedictine Monastery dating from 1183. Inside are box pews, stained glass windows, and a box organ.


Down Cathedral, Northern Ireland / Geoff Sutton 2019



















St Patrick is honoured for his missionary work in Ireland. According to minimal writings and traditions, he was born in Roman Britain, captured as a youth by pirates and enslaved.
 
He escaped back to Britain and saw a vision calling him to Ireland.

He appears to have lived most of his life in the 400s.



















The traditional burial site of St Patrick is on the left  as you face the Cathedral.






You can see Celtic Crosses in the front and in the back of the Cathedral.





Nearby the Cathedral is the Southwell School and Almshouses built for poor boys and girls in 1733.








































A visitor's centre is below Down Hill.

You can learn more about St Patrick's life here. Although buried somewhere in Ireland, no one is sure of his birthplace in Great Britain.






Cathedral Admission: There is no charge to enter the Cathedral or visit the burial site.
Cathedral website:  http://downcathedral.org/
*****

Visitor Centre Admission: The fees for the St Patrick Centre are on the website
     https://www.saintpatrickcentre.com/

Shops: There is a store in the Cathedral and in the Visitor's Centre.

Toilets: Available in the Visitor's Centre.

Food: There are places to eat near the Visitor's Centre.


If you visit the British Isles and Ireland, you may find this book interesting.

Mind the Gap  on AMAZON






Please check out my website   www.suttong.com

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