St.Macartin's Cathedral to reopen for worship on Sunday

St. Macartin’s Cathedral will reopen for public worship on Sunday after a period of worship in the Cathedral Hall, and following an extensive period of work being carried out on the building.

The return to worship in the Cathedral will take place on Palm Sunday, beginning with a special procession from the Cathedral Hall to the Cathedral itself.

Speaking to the Impartial Reporter, the clergy for St. Macartin’s – the Very Rev. Kenneth Hall, Dean of Clogher, and Rev. Christopher West, Curate Assistant – said: “Palm Sunday will be our first Sunday back in the Cathedral.

“We meet at the Cathedral Hall at 10.30am on April 10 as we begin our procession with palm branches and a donkey into the cathedral, to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and to mark our movement back into the newly redecorated cathedral.

“There will be a special guest preacher – the Rev. Nick McKee, a former student of Portora Royal School, and currently the Director of Ordinands for the Diocese of Blackburn in the Church of England.

The Cathedral starting to look in good shape with its new coat of paint on the ceiling.

‘All welcome’

“All will be made very welcome – parishioner or non-parishioner, the young or young at heart, at that service.

“Wherever you have been, and wherever you are going, you are very welcome to join with us as we begin our celebrations of this ‘week of all weeks’.”

Explaining some of the work undertaken on the historic landmark and beloved institution of faith in the community, which dates from the early 1600s, Sam Morrow, Honorary Secretary of the Select Vestry, said: “The Cathedral has undergone major restoration work, costing in excess of £500,000.

“The work involved re-roofing, the repair of stonework, internal redecoration, a rebuild of the organ, and enhancement of the Cathedral precincts.”

Taylor Gailey, cutting in around the architrave in the Cathedral.

Chris McCollum, of McCollum Conservation, surveyed the building and prepared specifications for the work to be undertaken, and Marius Blake prepared costings for the proposed work.

Harold Graham, Irvinestown, was awarded the contract for the restoration work, which began last summer.

Of the extensive works on the Cathedral’s roof, Mr. Morrow said: “The roof was in bad need of repair as there were rainwater leaks into the structure, and loose slates.

“The work involved the removal of all of the slates and gutters. The central high roof was fitted with new Welsh slates, and the pick of the slates that had been removed were used for the lower roofs.”

He continued: “The pinnacles on the roof had become loose, and had to be restored. The Cathedral roof structure should now be secure for the next 100 years.”

Stephen scraping back the vestry window in the church.

One of the more complex undertakings for the restoration project was the internal work, explained Mr. Morrow.

“Scaffolding, which took two weeks to erect, was required so that any internal plasterwork requiring attention could be repaired, and to allow the painters access to all the surfaces.”

The colour scheme of the cathedral has also changed, he added.

“The colours chosen were slaked white for the ceiling, and stock white for the walls, with the pillars and other structural members being a shade of mushroom.

“The east and chancel walls have been painted in a distinctive shade of red.”

Ross Scott, Castlederg, was awarded the contract for the painting works.

The final stages of work will improve walkways around the cathedral, access to the graveyard, and the construction of a path to the Garden of Remembrance, where ashes are buried.

Mr. Morrow added: “New signage will be erected, giving information on the Cole Vault, and on the area of the graveyard where graves are unmarked.”

He concluded: “The generous financial support of the parishioners, members of the community and local businesses, together with grants from The National Churches Trust and Allchurches Trust, enabled this major project to be undertaken.”

The Cathedral getting a lick of paint.