St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam
Encyclopedia
St Mary's Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry in the Church of Ireland
. It is located in Tuam
, County Galway
in Ireland
. From the 12th century until 1839, both before and after the Reformation
, it was the seat of the former Archdiocese of Tuam
. Most of the present structure dates from the 1870s, but parts of earlier 12th and 14th century structures survive within.
who founded the church about 501. The traditional date of his death is 540. However, the names of only two other bishops of Tuam are recorded before the 11th century, Ferdomnach (died 781) and Eugene mac Clerig (died 969).
The medieval importance of Tuam was chiefly the result of its becoming the seat of the O'Connor High Kings of Ireland in the early 11th century. The O'Connors had previously been based at Cruachain, County Roscommon
.
The first cathedral on the present site was begun in the 12th century, when Turlough O'Connor (1088–1156) was High King. This marked the establishment of Tuam as the seat of an Archbishop, an event which followed the Synod of Kells of 1152.
The first cathedral lasted only a few years and was destroyed by fire in 1184, recorded thus in the Annals of Lough Cé
: "The great church of Tuam-da-Ghualann fell in one day, both roof and stone". After this, no rebuilding was attempted for some one hundred years, except that in the 13th century a small parish church was built on the site of an old monastery. This long delay was largely the result of the Norman invasion of Ireland
, which left the city of Tuam in ruins.
In the 14th century, a second St Mary's Cathedral was begun, a little to the east of the original building and incorporating into its entrance the remains of the 12th century chancel and sanctuary. This was then a Roman Catholic place of worship, which it remained until, following the English Reformation
, William Mullaly was appointed by Queen Elizabeth I
as the first Church of Ireland
Archbishop of Tuam
, thus dispossessing the Catholic clergy. By 2011, some Anglicans were able to acknowledge that
, which was begun in about 1864 and completed in 1878. Charles James Seymour was the Dean at the time. The new or third Cathedral was built on the site of the first Cathedral and incorporated the Hiberno-Romanesque Arch, while the second deBurgo Cathedral became the Diocesan Synod Hall, Library and Registry. The Cathedral was consecrated on 9 October 1878, with the Bishop of Cork as preacher. The funding for this rebuilding was helped by the combination of Church of Ireland dioceses into the new Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry
in 1839.
The style is Irish pointed. The building is 150 ft. long, and the transepts 75 ft. wide. The oak reredos
is taken from St. Columb's Cathedral Church
, Derry. The chancel chairs were presented by the 5th Marquess of Sligo
. The present sanctuary floor was quarried at the Merlin quarries, Galway. The Bishop's Throne, the Pulpit, the Font and the Chapter Stalls were made of Caen stone and Irish marble. The original organ, which has been rebuilt, was the gift of Archbishop Josiah Hort
in 1742. At the S.W. end of the Cathedral is a portion of an ancient Irish Cross.
The Synod Hall stalls are reputed to have been in a Piedmont
ese monastery, and brought to Ireland by Edward Joshua Cooper M.P. of Markree Castle
, Co. Sligo and were later presented to St. Mary's Cathedral.
The present day Cathedral contains antiquities such as a Romanesque
12th century chancel-arch which has been called "the finest example of Hiberno-Romanesque architecture now extant". It also contains the High Cross of Tuam, a national monument which was moved to its present site in 1992, and a significant part of the 14th century cathedral. In the south aisle, the ornamented shaft of another high cross dating from the late 12th century survives, while the choir stalls are Italian baroque and date from about 1740. The incorporation of these older structures was contrary to the wishes of Sir Thomas Deane. The High Cross of Tuam was erected in the 12th century by Turlough O'Connor to mark the completion of the first cathedral and the appointment of the first Archbishop of Tuam
.
The stained glass
west window, depicting the Transfiguration of our Lord
, dates from 1913 and is very fine. Other smaller windows show figures from the Old Testament
, Moses
, David
, Solomon
, Ezra
, Malachi
and John the Baptist
, and a window depicting Christ the King was installed in memory of Deane, the cathedral's architect.
Some major renovations took place between 1985 and 1993, and a new central heating system was added in September 2000.
The 12th century Hiberno-Romanesque Triumphal Arch is one of the outstanding features of St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam. It is the only remaining part of the original Cathedral, erected at this site during the reign of Turlough O'Connor.
The Nave of O’Connor’s Cathedral collapsed in 1184 due to a fire, with only the stone Chancel Arch escaping. In the 14th century a new Cathedral was built by the DeBurgo family, but to the east of the old building, with the Chancel Arch becoming the entrance to the new Cathedral. The Chancel Arch was blocked up by a stone and wooden structure in the centre of which was placed a door. This structure remained in place for over 500 years. Thus, the Chancel Arch was exposed to the elements for this period, and it is remarkable that it has remained in such a good state of preservation. It was not until the 19th century that it became once again the Chancel of the present Cathedral.
The rounded Chancel Arch is Hiberno-Romanesque in style, and is built of red sandstone. As there is no keystone in the arch, the columns supporting the capitals of the arch have a slight inward inclination in order to bear and support the tremendous weight of the whole structure. This means that the columns are not perpendicular, so that the space at the base of the supporting columns is wider than at the capitals. The arch which is perfectly circular, is 22 ft. 6 ins. wide at the base and 16 ft. high from the ground. It consists of six consecutive semi-circular arches of elaborately ornamented stonework supported on columns, which with the exception of the outside one, on each side, are semi-circular and not ornamented. The capitals are richly sculptured with a variety of interlaced traceries, something similar to those on the base of the High Cross in the Square. There are carved grotesque faces on the jambs.
In the judgement of antiquary, Dr. George Petrie, "The Ancient Church of Tuam, was not only a larger but more splendid structure than Cormac's Church at Cashel, and not unworthy of the powerful Monarch to whom it chiefly owes its erection." In looking at the Arch one is indeed so impressed by its dignity and beauty, that one is given a real vision of what the Ancient Cathedral must have been in its original glory and splendour – one of the outstanding Cathedrals of its period in Western Europe.
. During the Cromwellian period, the earlier silver apparently disappeared from Tuam, as occurred in many places, but reappeared later.
The present set of silver used in the Cathedral is composed of six pieces. Four of the items are pre-1700, but the inscription on two of the items seems to point to a later date.
The two oldest pieces are a Chalice
and a Paten
. The Chalice bears the inscription, Ex dono Revernd mi Patris in Christo Sam Providentia Divina Tuamensis Archieppi & Feneborensis Epis Conaecieq Metropolitani. Its dimensions are 10" high and 5" diameter. The Paten, the surface of which is quite scratched, has the inscription, "Sam Tuamensis", and measures 7.5" in diameter. Neither piece is hallmarked
. These two items date from the Archbishopric of Samuel Pullen
(c.1660 to 1666).
Both the second Chalice and the Paten are hallmarked and bear the inscription, Ecclesiae Cathedralis Stae Mariae Tuamensis 1678. The dimensions of the Chalice are 10" high with a diameter of 5.5", with the Paten measuring 7.5" in diameter. There is also a cover for the Chalice. These two items date from the Archbishopric of John Vesey (c.1678 to 1716),
There are also two flagons with a similar inscription, Ex dono Viri Venerabilis Honorabilis Thoma Vesey, Episcopi Laonensis Equitis Aurati quondam Archdiaconi Tuamensis in Usum Ecclesiac Cathedralis do Tuam & Gloriam SS & Individuae Trinitatis. These hallmarked flagons are 10" high and 7" in diameter. One Flagon is in good order but the other is somewhat damaged.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. It is located in Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. From the 12th century until 1839, both before and after the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, it was the seat of the former Archdiocese of Tuam
Archdiocese of Tuam (Church of Ireland)
The Archbishopric of Tuam existed from the mid twelfth century until 1839, with its seat at Tuam.St Jarlath is considered to have founded Tuam as the seat of a bishop in about 501, and he stands first in the list of bishops of Tuam...
. Most of the present structure dates from the 1870s, but parts of earlier 12th and 14th century structures survive within.
Origins
The founder and first bishop of Tuam is considered to be St JarlathJarlath
Saint Iarlaithe mac Loga, also known as Jarlath , was an Irish priest and scholar from Connacht, remembered as the founder of the monastic School of Tuam and patron saint of the Archdiocese of Tuam...
who founded the church about 501. The traditional date of his death is 540. However, the names of only two other bishops of Tuam are recorded before the 11th century, Ferdomnach (died 781) and Eugene mac Clerig (died 969).
The medieval importance of Tuam was chiefly the result of its becoming the seat of the O'Connor High Kings of Ireland in the early 11th century. The O'Connors had previously been based at Cruachain, County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
The first cathedral on the present site was begun in the 12th century, when Turlough O'Connor (1088–1156) was High King. This marked the establishment of Tuam as the seat of an Archbishop, an event which followed the Synod of Kells of 1152.
The first cathedral lasted only a few years and was destroyed by fire in 1184, recorded thus in the Annals of Lough Cé
Annals of Lough Cé
The Annals of Loch Cé cover events, mainly in Connacht and its neighbouring regions, from 1014 to 1590. It takes its name from Lough Cé in the kingdom of Moylurg - now north County Roscommon - which was the centre of power of the Clan MacDermot...
: "The great church of Tuam-da-Ghualann fell in one day, both roof and stone". After this, no rebuilding was attempted for some one hundred years, except that in the 13th century a small parish church was built on the site of an old monastery. This long delay was largely the result of the Norman invasion of Ireland
Norman Invasion of Ireland
The Norman invasion of Ireland was a two-stage process, which began on 1 May 1169 when a force of loosely associated Norman knights landed near Bannow, County Wexford...
, which left the city of Tuam in ruins.
In the 14th century, a second St Mary's Cathedral was begun, a little to the east of the original building and incorporating into its entrance the remains of the 12th century chancel and sanctuary. This was then a Roman Catholic place of worship, which it remained until, following the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, William Mullaly was appointed by Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
as the first Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
Archbishop of Tuam
Archdiocese of Tuam (Church of Ireland)
The Archbishopric of Tuam existed from the mid twelfth century until 1839, with its seat at Tuam.St Jarlath is considered to have founded Tuam as the seat of a bishop in about 501, and he stands first in the list of bishops of Tuam...
, thus dispossessing the Catholic clergy. By 2011, some Anglicans were able to acknowledge that
"The forced alienation of sacred places from one community to another leaves lasting scars"
Present Cathedral
With the coming of the railway to Tuam in 1861, and the enlargement of the garrison, the town's Anglican population increased and this led to the building of a third cathedral on the site, designed by the architect Sir Thomas Newenham DeaneThomas Newenham Deane
Sir Thomas Newenham Deane was an Irish architect, the son of Sir Thomas Deane, and father of Sir Thomas Manly Deane, who were also architects....
, which was begun in about 1864 and completed in 1878. Charles James Seymour was the Dean at the time. The new or third Cathedral was built on the site of the first Cathedral and incorporated the Hiberno-Romanesque Arch, while the second deBurgo Cathedral became the Diocesan Synod Hall, Library and Registry. The Cathedral was consecrated on 9 October 1878, with the Bishop of Cork as preacher. The funding for this rebuilding was helped by the combination of Church of Ireland dioceses into the new Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry
Church of Ireland Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry
The Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry is a diocese in the Church of Ireland located in western Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh...
in 1839.
The style is Irish pointed. The building is 150 ft. long, and the transepts 75 ft. wide. The oak reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
is taken from St. Columb's Cathedral Church
St Columb's Cathedral
St Columb's Cathedral in the walled city of Derry, Northern Ireland is the mother church of the Church of Ireland Diocese of Derry and Raphoe and the parish church of Templemore....
, Derry. The chancel chairs were presented by the 5th Marquess of Sligo
Marquess of Sligo
Marquess of Sligo is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for John Browne, 3rd Earl of Altamont. The Marquess holds the subsidiary titles of Baron Mount Eagle, of Westport in the County of Mayo , Viscount Westport, of Westport in the County of Mayo , Earl of Altamont, in the...
. The present sanctuary floor was quarried at the Merlin quarries, Galway. The Bishop's Throne, the Pulpit, the Font and the Chapter Stalls were made of Caen stone and Irish marble. The original organ, which has been rebuilt, was the gift of Archbishop Josiah Hort
Josiah Hort
Josiah Hort , was an English clergyman of the Church of Ireland who ended his career as archbishop of Tuam .Brought up as a Nonconformist, Hort went to school with the hymn writer Isaac Watts, who was his lifelong friend...
in 1742. At the S.W. end of the Cathedral is a portion of an ancient Irish Cross.
The Synod Hall stalls are reputed to have been in a Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
ese monastery, and brought to Ireland by Edward Joshua Cooper M.P. of Markree Castle
Markree Castle
Markree Castle, in Collooney, County Sligo, Ireland is the ancestral seat of the Cooper family, partially moated by the River Unshin. Today it is a small family-run hotel.-17th century:...
, Co. Sligo and were later presented to St. Mary's Cathedral.
The present day Cathedral contains antiquities such as a Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
12th century chancel-arch which has been called "the finest example of Hiberno-Romanesque architecture now extant". It also contains the High Cross of Tuam, a national monument which was moved to its present site in 1992, and a significant part of the 14th century cathedral. In the south aisle, the ornamented shaft of another high cross dating from the late 12th century survives, while the choir stalls are Italian baroque and date from about 1740. The incorporation of these older structures was contrary to the wishes of Sir Thomas Deane. The High Cross of Tuam was erected in the 12th century by Turlough O'Connor to mark the completion of the first cathedral and the appointment of the first Archbishop of Tuam
Archbishop of Tuam
The Archbishop of Tuam is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Tuam in County Galway, Ireland. The title was used by the Church of Ireland until 1839, and is still in use by the Roman Catholic Church.-History:...
.
The stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
west window, depicting the Transfiguration of our Lord
Transfiguration of Jesus
The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event reported in the New Testament in which Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant upon a mountain. The Synoptic Gospels describe it, and 2 Peter 1:16-18 refers to it....
, dates from 1913 and is very fine. Other smaller windows show figures from the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
, David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
, Solomon
Solomon
Solomon , according to the Book of Kings and the Book of Chronicles, a King of Israel and according to the Talmud one of the 48 prophets, is identified as the son of David, also called Jedidiah in 2 Samuel 12:25, and is described as the third king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before...
, Ezra
Ezra
Ezra , also called Ezra the Scribe and Ezra the Priest in the Book of Ezra. According to the Hebrew Bible he returned from the Babylonian exile and reintroduced the Torah in Jerusalem...
, Malachi
Malachi
Malachi, Malachias or Mal'achi was a Jewish prophet in the Hebrew Bible. He had two brothers, Nathaniel and Josiah. Malachi was the writer of the Book of Malachi, the last book of the Neviim section in the Jewish Tanakh...
and John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
, and a window depicting Christ the King was installed in memory of Deane, the cathedral's architect.
Some major renovations took place between 1985 and 1993, and a new central heating system was added in September 2000.
Chancel Arch
The Nave of O’Connor’s Cathedral collapsed in 1184 due to a fire, with only the stone Chancel Arch escaping. In the 14th century a new Cathedral was built by the DeBurgo family, but to the east of the old building, with the Chancel Arch becoming the entrance to the new Cathedral. The Chancel Arch was blocked up by a stone and wooden structure in the centre of which was placed a door. This structure remained in place for over 500 years. Thus, the Chancel Arch was exposed to the elements for this period, and it is remarkable that it has remained in such a good state of preservation. It was not until the 19th century that it became once again the Chancel of the present Cathedral.
The rounded Chancel Arch is Hiberno-Romanesque in style, and is built of red sandstone. As there is no keystone in the arch, the columns supporting the capitals of the arch have a slight inward inclination in order to bear and support the tremendous weight of the whole structure. This means that the columns are not perpendicular, so that the space at the base of the supporting columns is wider than at the capitals. The arch which is perfectly circular, is 22 ft. 6 ins. wide at the base and 16 ft. high from the ground. It consists of six consecutive semi-circular arches of elaborately ornamented stonework supported on columns, which with the exception of the outside one, on each side, are semi-circular and not ornamented. The capitals are richly sculptured with a variety of interlaced traceries, something similar to those on the base of the High Cross in the Square. There are carved grotesque faces on the jambs.
In the judgement of antiquary, Dr. George Petrie, "The Ancient Church of Tuam, was not only a larger but more splendid structure than Cormac's Church at Cashel, and not unworthy of the powerful Monarch to whom it chiefly owes its erection." In looking at the Arch one is indeed so impressed by its dignity and beauty, that one is given a real vision of what the Ancient Cathedral must have been in its original glory and splendour – one of the outstanding Cathedrals of its period in Western Europe.
The Communion Silver
The earliest pieces of the Communion silver date from the reign of Charles IICharles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. During the Cromwellian period, the earlier silver apparently disappeared from Tuam, as occurred in many places, but reappeared later.
The present set of silver used in the Cathedral is composed of six pieces. Four of the items are pre-1700, but the inscription on two of the items seems to point to a later date.
The two oldest pieces are a Chalice
Chalice
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. This can also refer to;* Holy Chalice, the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine* Chalice , a type of smoking pipe...
and a Paten
Paten
A paten, or diskos, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic bread which is to be consecrated. It is generally used during the service itself, while the reserved hosts are stored in the Tabernacle in a ciborium....
. The Chalice bears the inscription, Ex dono Revernd mi Patris in Christo Sam Providentia Divina Tuamensis Archieppi & Feneborensis Epis Conaecieq Metropolitani. Its dimensions are 10" high and 5" diameter. The Paten, the surface of which is quite scratched, has the inscription, "Sam Tuamensis", and measures 7.5" in diameter. Neither piece is hallmarked
Hallmark
A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of precious metals — platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium...
. These two items date from the Archbishopric of Samuel Pullen
Samuel Pullen
Samuel Pullen was the Church of Ireland archbishop of Tuam in Ireland.-Biography:Samuel Pullen was the son of William Pullein, rector of Ripley, Yorkshire. Born in Ripley in 1598, he commenced M.A...
(c.1660 to 1666).
Both the second Chalice and the Paten are hallmarked and bear the inscription, Ecclesiae Cathedralis Stae Mariae Tuamensis 1678. The dimensions of the Chalice are 10" high with a diameter of 5.5", with the Paten measuring 7.5" in diameter. There is also a cover for the Chalice. These two items date from the Archbishopric of John Vesey (c.1678 to 1716),
There are also two flagons with a similar inscription, Ex dono Viri Venerabilis Honorabilis Thoma Vesey, Episcopi Laonensis Equitis Aurati quondam Archdiaconi Tuamensis in Usum Ecclesiac Cathedralis do Tuam & Gloriam SS & Individuae Trinitatis. These hallmarked flagons are 10" high and 7" in diameter. One Flagon is in good order but the other is somewhat damaged.
Burials
- Nehemiah DonnellanNehemiah DonnellanNehemiah Donnellan , Archbishop of Tuam, fl. c. 1560-1609.-Background:Donellan was born in the county of Galway, a son of Mael Sechlainn Ó Dónalláin, by his wife Sisly, daughter of William Ó Cellaigh of Calla...
- William DanielWilliam Daniel (archbishop)William Daniel D.D. was an Irish clergyman who served as the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Tuam from 1609 until his death in 1628.Born in Kilkenny, he was one of the first appointed Scholars of Trinity College, Dublin, and afterwards one of the college's first elected Fellows...
- Samuel PullenSamuel PullenSamuel Pullen was the Church of Ireland archbishop of Tuam in Ireland.-Biography:Samuel Pullen was the son of William Pullein, rector of Ripley, Yorkshire. Born in Ripley in 1598, he commenced M.A...
- Jemmett BrowneJemmett BrowneJemmett Browne was the Church of Ireland bishop of Killaloe from 1743 to 1745, Bishop of Dromore for three months in the middle of 1745, Bishop of Cork and Ross from 1745 to 1772, Bishop of Elphin from 1772 to 1775, and finally Archbishop of Tuam from 1775 until his death in 1782.Of a family...
External links
- Parish News for St Mary's Cathedral at tuam.anglican.org
- Exterior of the Cathedral
