The extensive restoration work of St. Macartin's Cathedral has been described by the Bishop of Clogher as a "highly-visible sign to this local community of the presence of God”.

The Bishop of Clogher, the Right Rev. Dr. Ian Ellis, reopened the cathedral on the evening of Sunday, May 15, following several months of extensive restoration work – including the replacement of the cathedral roof, complete internal redecoration, the refurbishment of the organ, and work in the grounds.

A special service of Choral Evensong was held that evening to celebrate the reopening of the cathedral, with parishioners and members of the wider community gathered for the service.

The Dean, the Very Rev. Kenneth Hall, introduced the service, and expressed his thanks on behalf of the people and clergy of the cathedral to the project management team, including Mr. Sam Morrow (Honorary Secretary), Mrs. Hope Kerr (Honorary Treasurer), and the cathedral’s two Glebe Wardens, Mr. George Irvine and Mr. Noel Johnston.

He thanked all those who gave of their help and time over the project, those who contributed towards the costs incurred, and those who presented gifts to be dedicated at the service.

He noted that the parish is "deeply indebted to Mr. Chris McCollum, Mr. Marius Blake, Mr. Harold Graham and his team, Mr. Ross Scott and their team of skilled painters, and Mr Alastair McCartney".

At the beginning of the service, the bishop, clergy, and churchwardens gathered at the West door of the cathedral, as Mr. Nathan Clyde, the rector’s churchwarden, asked Bishop Ellis to reopen the cathedral.

Bishop Ellis did so in God’s name, and prayed for its work and witness. The cathedral clergy were accompanied in the procession by the Rev. Canon Desmond Kingston and the Rt. Rev. Monsignor Peter O’Reilly, St. Michael's Church.

The service was sung by the cathedral choir, along with special guests. The choir was directed by Dr. David Baxter and accompanied – on the newly refurbished organ – by the cathedral’s Director of Music and Organist, Mr. Glenn Moore.

The Lessons were read by Mr. Sam Morrow and Mr. Scott Elliott, Parish Reader. The sermon was preached by Bishop Ellis, who described the redecorated cathedral as “a highly-visible sign to this local community of the presence of God”, and commended the Dean and Select Vestry for their faith in undertaking such an extensive project.

The Occasional Prayers were led by the Curate Assistant, Rev. Christopher West. Miss Alanna Williamson, the Peoples’ Churchwarden, asked Bishop Ellis to dedicate a number of gifts to the glory of God.

The next exciting development for the cathedral will be celebrations for its quadricentennial year. Clergy for St. Macartin’s Cathedral, Dean Hall and Rev. Christopher West, said: “As noted during the service, the reopening marks the beginning of a landmark year in the history of the parish of Enniskillen – its quadricentennial year. A year of celebration is planned, and full details will be announced in due course."

St. Macartin’s Cathedral (formerly St. Anne’s Church) has stood for 400 years, and today, the people and clergy of the cathedral are still committed to standing at the heart of the community, strengthening commitment, outreach, worship, and Christian love.