Unveiling of St Patrick’s Cross and anniversary celebration at cathedral

Unveiling of St Patrick’s Cross and anniversary celebration at cathedral

29 August 2018

DOWN Cathedral is marking a double celebration this weekend.

This Friday afternoon, a replica St Patrick’s Cross will be unveiled during a short act of dedication, while on Sunday the cathedral marks the 200th anniversary of its restoration with a morning service featuring music and hymns spanning the period between the 16th and 21st centuries.

The replica eighth century cross which stands 12 feet high will be located just yards from where the patron saint is buried on the Hill of Down.

Friday’s ceremony is taking place a little later than planned.

The dedication of the cross — which will be located close to the church’s graveyard — had to be postponed earlier in the year following the discovery of medieval human remains while contractors were preparing the ground for the installation of the new cross.

The intricately designed sculpture, which has been manufactured by McConnell Brothers, will be unveiled during a short service attended by the Bishop of Down and Dromore, Harold Miller, Bishop Noel Treanor and the Dean of Down, the Very Rev Henry Hull, who will be joined by other local clergy and members of the Cathedral Chapter.

It is believed the human remains discovered at the Cathedral may have lain undisturbed for more than 500 years and are directly linked to a former monastery at the site in the Middle Ages.

Benedictine monks took up residence in the area in 1183 after making their way to the area from Normandy.

Ahead of the weekend events, Dean Hull said the original cross can be seen in some old paintings of the cathedral.

He also revealed a lot of research on the cross was carried out by the Down County Museum curator, Dr Mike King, who discovered lots of references to the Cross of St Patrick on the Hill of Down.

“Mike’s research enabled him to come up with an artist’s impression of what it would have looked like and this has been replicated in the cross which which will be dedicated this Friday,” the Dean continued.

“The firm which made it also constructed the replica high cross which sits at the front of the cathedral replacing the former structure which is now housed in the nearby museum.”

Dean Hull said St Patrick’s Cross will be positioned close to the church’s graveyard and directly opposite the cathedral’s main door.

He said Dr King and museum staff have also put an information board together depicting the history of the cross which is on display inside the church.

The cross project has been financed by Newry, Mourne and Down Council and will be erected on Friday morning, ahead of the afternoon dedication.

Turning to Sunday’s celebration service, Dean Hull explained historical records reveal that the restoration of the Cathedral was completed in August 1818.

“We are going to have hymns and music that links the centuries from when the monks left the Hill of Down to the present day, spanning the church’s history over the past 200 years,” he added.

Friday’s unveiling takes place at 2.30pm, while Sunday morning’s celebration service starts at 11.30am.