S. Columb

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S. Columbs Cathedral

• Londonderry
• Built 1633

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A view of S. Columbs Cathedral from outside the
City Walls
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The history of the Cathedral and the history of
the City is very closely linked. To understand
the history of the Cathedral we must also look
at the history of the City.
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• 545 A.D. S. Columba founded Derry.
• 563 A.D. S. Columba set out from Derry to Iona.
• 783 A.D. The City burned by the Danes.
• 1135 A.D. Derry and its Churches were burnt.
• 1164 A.D. The Temple More (Great Church) was
  built.
• 1197 A.D. MacEtig of Limavady robbed the Great
  Church.
• 1198 A.D. John de Courcey plundered the Churches
  of Tyrone, Derry and Raphoe.
• 1203 A.D. The City was burned.
• 1222 A.D. Niall ONeill plundered Derry.
• 1250 A.D. The upper end of the Great Church fell.
• 1568 A.D. The powder magazine exploded and ruined
  the City.

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• 1600 A.D. Sir Henry Docwra prepared for the
  rebuilding of the City.
• 1604 A.D. King James I granted the first Charter
  of Derry, creating Docwra Provost for life,
  with twelve aldermen, two sheriffs, twenty-four
  burgesses,etc.
• 1608 A.D. Sir Cahir ODoherty burned the City and
  Culmore Fort.
• 1613 A.D. King James I by Charter formed a new
  County, to be called the County of Londonderry.
• 1619 A.D. The walls of the City were planned by
  Captain Panton and ten other captains.
• 1628 A.D. The building of S. Columbs Cathedral
  commenced.
• 1633 A.D. The Cathedral was completed.

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• 1638 A.D. King Charles I gave five Bells to
  Londonderry.
• 1641 A.D. The Rebellion of this year brought many
  refugees to the City.
• 1644 A.D. The Solemn League and Covenant was
  signed in the Cathedral.
• 1649 A.D. The City was besieged for 20 weeks by
  Royalist forces.
• 1660-1 A.D. On the restoration of King Charles
  II, the Bishop and the Dean came to Derry, they
  were installed on March 15.
• 1688 A.D. December 7. The Gates of Derry were
  closed in the face of King James IIs soldiers.
• 1689 A.D. August 1. King James army retreated
  towards Dublin, burning the churches and houses
  everywhere, as they passed.

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• 1718 A.D. August 1. Colonel Mitchelburns
  Crimson Flag hoisted for the first time on the
  Cathedral.
• 1803 A.D. The colours of the Londonderry
  Regiment, dedicated in the Cathedral.
• 1833 A.D. The present Deanery was built.
• 1855-61 A.D. Extensive alterations and
  improvements to the Cathedral were effected.
• 1867 A.D. The graveyard closed for burials.
• 1887 A.D. The Chancel was added to the Cathedral.
• 1891 A.D. The Cathedral Schools (London Street)
  was built.
• 1896 A.D. The Bishop Street School was built.
• 1910 A.D. The Chapter House and Choir Vestry,
  gifts of Mrs Corscaden dedicated November 25.

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• 1922 A.D. The Colours of the 2nd Royal
  Inniskilling Fusiliers laid up. The colours of
  the 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were
  presented to the Cathedral.
• 1926 A.D. The Colours of the 8th Royal
  Inniskilling Fusiliers laid up.
• 1932 A.D. The eight noble War Memorial Volumes,
  presented to the cathedral by Sir John Arnott
  and the proprietors of the Irish Times
• 1933 A.D. The Memorial Tablet commemorating
  Colonel Baker and Captain Browning was
  unveiled.
• 1962 A.D. A memorial to the men of 9th
  (Londonderry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment,
  Royal Artillery was dedicated
• 1968 A.D Flag of the 10th Inniskilling Old
  Comrades Association laid up in the Cathedral.

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My journey through the history of the Cathedral
and the City ends in 1968.

• 1968 also saw the start of grave civil unrest in
  Londonderry.
• History repeating itself, perhaps.

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This presentation was just a collection of
interesting facts about the Cathedral and the
City.

• If you wish to learn more about the Cathedral
  please visit the Official Site.
• Http//www.stcolumbscathedral.org