Completion of St Columb's Cathedral
- When
- 1633
- Where
- St Columb's Cathedral
- Episodes
- 2
St Columb's Cathedral in Derry was consecrated in 1633. Built by William Parratt, the 1633 Plantation Gothic structure is described as the city's oldest surviving building. It is recognized as the first Anglican cathedral built in Britain and Ireland after the Reformation.
Episodes
- Consecration of the Cathedral
The cathedral was consecrated in 1633. Built by William Parratt, it is the oldest surviving building in Derry.
- Chancel Foundations
Foundations for a chancel extending the east end were laid in 1633, but construction did not proceed further.
Background and detail
Construction and Consecration. The cathedral was built by William Parratt from London and consecrated in 1633. It is the oldest surviving building in Derry, described as a 1633 Plantation Gothic cathedral. The structure is dedicated to Saint Columba, an Irish monk who established a Christian settlement in the area.
Historical Significance. St Columb's is recognized as the first Anglican cathedral built in Britain and Ireland after the Reformation. It was also the first non-Roman Catholic cathedral constructed in Western Europe. The church serves as the episcopal see for the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.
Commemorative Inscriptions. A stone in the cathedral porch records its completion with an inscription praising London for building the church and city from the ground. This inscription highlights the connection between the city's development and the cathedral's construction.
People involved
- William Parratt · builder
- Saint Columba · Dedication
Sources
- St Columb's Cathedral Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-16
- Derry Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-18
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.