Cathedral of St. Patrick and St. Colman, Hill Street, Newry, Co Down, BT34 1AF

Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Colman, Hill Street, Newry

This is a Perpendicular Gothic style Roman Catholic cathedral built in ashlar granite, begun in 1825 to designs by Thomas Duff (died 1848). The foundation stone was laid on 8 June 1825, and the building was dedicated in 1829 — apparently the first such dedication in a Catholic church following the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act in that same year, marking the removal of the Penal Laws. The cathedral forms a striking and dominant feature in the Newry townscape, its impressive silhouette and attractive tower combining with exceptional interior finishes — including carved stone, timber and mosaic — to make it an outstanding example of its type. The listing extends to the cathedral itself, together with its gates, gate piers and railings.

Plan and General Form

The building follows a traditional cruciform plan comprising a nave, chancel, side aisles, transepts, sacristy and bell tower. The tower and sacristy are attached to the north elevation. Roofs are natural slate and lead-covered, with parapet gutters and box-section metal downpipes. Five granite steps with roll-moulded nosings rise to a concrete-paved area in front of the west end.

West End (Principal Façade)

The west elevation consists of a tall central gable flanked by two squat towers that terminate the north and south aisles. Between the gable and each flanking tower, a tall semi-attached octagonal stair tower rises to the full height of the elevation, terminating in an octagonal lantern above the parapet.

The façade is ashlar granite with a raised, chamfered base course. The main door is set within a deeply recessed Tudor-arched opening with five ribs — three of which are colonettes — to its canted reveal, and a hoodmould with stop-ends above. The doors themselves are a pair of framed and braced tongue-and-groove-sheeted oak, stained and varnished, with decorative strap hinges, a central ring-handle strap, iron beading to all sides, and a large lockcase locked from the inside only.

Above the door is a large Gothic window containing granite tracery with stained glass, set within a canted opening with canted cill and reveals. A moulded stringcourse at cill level continues across the gable and across the stair towers. A hoodmould with figurative stop-ends sits over the window. Higher in the gable is a small lancet opening — a ventilation slot to the loft — with canted reveal and wire mesh over. The gable carries a frieze decorated with a raised Gothic arcade design, which in turn supports a moulded stringcourse following the line of the gable. Above this rises a parapet finished with stepped crenellations, terminated at the apex by a square-based gabled pinnacle, panelled on three sides, with a granite cross finial.

West End: Stair Towers

The two octagonal stair towers rise up each side of the main gable. Their walls are ashlar granite with base course matching the façade, plus an additional moulded base course one course above. Each tower is divided into four stages by moulded stringcourses. A narrow lancet window glazed with obscure glass lights the front face of the first and second stages. The stringcourse between the second and third stages marks the eaves level of the flanking aisle towers. The third stage is thus more exposed and only quarter-attached to the main gable; each face at this level is decorated with small chamfered rectangular panels with taller lancet panels above. Below the stringcourse between the third and fourth stages is a frieze with raised Gothic arcade decoration, continuing the pattern on the main gable. The fourth and uppermost stage rises above the main gable and is octagonal, with unglazed tracery openings to each face forming a fretted open crown, terminated with a moulded stringcourse and a crenellated parapet.

West End: Flanking Towers

The faces of the flanking towers are ashlar granite with a chamfered base course matching the façade. To each outer corner is a stepped buttress terminating as a corner pinnacle. At roof level there is a moulded stringcourse with an arcaded frieze below and a crenellated parapet above, all matching the treatment of the main façade. The west-facing front of each tower has a granite tracery window in a Gothic opening with canted reveals and a hoodmould. The side cheeks of each tower are identical to each other: a door at ground floor centre, tongue-and-groove-sheeted with no furniture, set within an opening with moulded reveal and a Tudor-arched head within a square-headed recess with hoodmould. The panelled spandrels to the arch head are decorated with raised shields. Above each side door is a hood-moulded stained glass tracery window with details matching those on the tower fronts.

South Elevation

South Aisle: The aisle wall runs from the southwest tower to the south-east side chapel, abutted by the south transept. It is squared granite rubble laid in regular courses with two snecking stones between each block, divided into five equal bays by four stepped ashlar granite buttresses terminating at eaves level. There is a moulded stringcourse at eaves level and a crenellated parapet above. Each bay contains a traceried window set in a canted Gothic-headed opening — five windows in total.

South Transept: The south transept abuts the south aisle. It has a door to the west cheek and windows to the south and east walls. Walls are ashlar granite with a chamfered base course to the west cheek only, a stringcourse at eaves level, and a crenellated parapet. Stepped corner buttresses terminate in gabled pinnacles at each outer corner.

The west cheek has a projecting gabled porch at ground floor centre. High on the wall above the porch are two blind tracery panels, each containing a raised shield: the left bears the letters "AD" in raised lettering, the right bears "1888" in the same style.

The porch itself is ashlar granite with base course matching the rest of the walls and corner buttresses offset at 45 degrees, terminating below eaves level. The eaves to each cheek are concave and carry a stringcourse and crenellated parapet rising up the gable, terminated by a granite cross finial. Three granite steps lead to the doorway in the centre of the west gable. The doors are a pair of Gothic-headed tongue-and-groove-sheeted stained timber leaves with black-painted decorative strap hinges, set within a recessed canted opening with a Gothic head. Each cheek of the porch has a small cusped lancet window with canted cill, decorated voussoirs and metal bars over.

The south elevation of the transept has three Gothic openings with sandstone tracery: a single narrow lancet to each side and a three-lancet composition to the centre. Below is a ground floor projection with a hipped granite roof, plain walls, and recessed confessionals within. The east elevation has two Gothic windows with granite tracery featuring a central mullion and transoms forming four lancet lights; below this, a projecting roof runs over the lower part of the wall flush with the buttress.

South Side Chapel: This chapel is abutted to the west by the south aisle and transept, and to the north by the chancel and sanctuary. The south and east walls match the treatment of the south transept but are lower, with crenellations stepping up to each corner. The south elevation has two traceried Gothic stained glass granite windows with canted reveals and voussoired hoodmoulds. A similar window appears on the east elevation, with a metal grill over.

South Nave Wall (Clerestory): Running from the west end gable to the apse is a clerestory wall enclosing the body of the church. At ground floor level it is internal, abutted by the south aisle, and arcaded. The first bay from the west end is dressed ashlar granite; the second and third bays are squared granite rubble laid in regular courses with two snecking stones between each block; the remaining bays are roughly finished squared granite blocks with clumsy repointing. The wall is divided into eight equal bays by stepped buttresses rising to gabled ashlar pinnacles. There is a moulded stringcourse at eaves level and a crenellated parapet above. The first bay is over the southwest tower; the second to sixth bays are over the side aisle; the seventh and eighth are over the south transept. Each bay contains a traceried window in a canted Gothic-headed opening with hoodmould.

Apse

The apse has nine bays, each divided by a stepped, gabled, pinnacled buttress and with a crenellated parapet matching the nave. The first two bays on each side are a continuation of the nave and are abutted by the side chapels. The remaining five form the canted apse itself. Each bay has a single clerestory-level window. Running below the parapet between the buttresses is a shallow Gothic arcade similar to that on the west façade. Each window is Gothic tracery with canted reveal and hoodmould, and the cills slope down to form a roof over the projecting lower wall, whose face is flush with the corner buttresses.

North Elevation

The north elevation mirrors the south, with two differences: the tower abuts the north aisle and the west cheek of the north transept, and the sacristy abuts the north side chapel and the east side of the north transept.

North Side Chapel: To the south it abuts the apse; to the west is the north transept; to the north it is partially abutted by the single-storey sacristy link. The remaining walls — to the east and north — are ashlar granite with a stringcourse at eaves level and a crenellated parapet. On the east wall at ground level is a granite block inscribed: "Chancel erected 1904, Most Rev H O'Neil, DD Lord Bishop of Dromore." There is a single traceried Gothic stained glass window in the east elevation with canted reveal and voussoired hoodmould, mirroring the east side of the south side chapel. Two similar windows appear in the north elevation, both with metal grills over; the sacristy abuts below these windows.

North Transept: This abuts the side aisle to the south, the tower to the west, and the single-storey sacristy to the east. Walls are ashlar granite with a chamfered base course to the west cheek only, a stringcourse at eaves level, and a crenellated parapet. Stepped corner buttresses terminate in gabled pinnacles. In the centre of the elevation is a projecting bay, which contains a shrine niche internally. The north elevation has three Gothic openings: the central opening on the projecting bay contains a three-part Gothic tracery window, while the flanking windows are narrow sandstone tracery lancets. The east elevation is abutted by the single-storey link block leading to the sacristy; above this are two Gothic windows with granite tracery.

North Aisle: The tower abuts to the east. The aisle wall is squared granite rubble laid in regular courses with snecking stones, divided into five equal bays by four stepped buttresses terminating at eaves level. There is a moulded stringcourse at eaves level and a crenellated parapet above. Each bay contains a traceried window in a canted Gothic-headed opening — five in total. The tower obscures the easternmost bay, and its window is infilled with a shrine.

North Nave Wall (Clerestory): This mirrors the south nave wall in all details of construction and fenestration. It is divided into eight equal bays by stepped buttresses rising to gabled pinnacles. The first bay from the west end is dressed ashlar granite; the second and third are squared granite rubble; the rest are roughly finished squared granite with clumsy repointing. The first bay is over the northwest tower; the second to sixth are over the side aisle; the seventh and eighth are over the north transept. Each bay has a traceried window in a canted Gothic-headed opening with hoodmould.

Tower

The tower is square in section with four stages, attached to the north side aisle at first-stage level, with its first and second stages abutting the north transept. Walls are of finely dressed ashlar granite with tall piers rising from the second stage to the parapet and assorted granite detailing.

Stage One: Exposed on the west and north elevations. The corners are chamfered from halfway up. The west elevation has a double moulded base course and a moulded stringcourse three courses higher. Four granite steps rise to a central entrance comprising a pair of timber Gothic-headed doors with decorative strap hinges, set within a deeply recessed and chamfered Gothic opening with hoodmould. A tubular metal handrail is to the left of the door. The north elevation has a single-storey outshot to the left containing stairs. There is a single cusped stained glass window in a canted reveal to the centre of the elevation. The outshot has a canted corner and a parapet above eaves level; its west cheek has a cusped stained glass window in a canted reveal.

Stage Two: Exposed on all four sides and double height, its wall is recessed within corner piers. At the foot of the recess the wall is pitched out to the stringcourse at first floor level. Each face contains two tall cusped lancet windows divided into two panes by a quatrefoil panel in the middle. Each window is stained glass in a chamfered reveal. Each side pier is octagonal and quarter-attached to the tower. Between this stage and the third is a frieze decorated with a Gothic arcade.

Stage Three: Single storey with a similar central panel and piers as the stage below, though the octagonal piers transform into plain buttresses. The panel contains four narrow lancet windows in chamfered reveals. Above, between this stage and stage four, five moulded corbels support a balconette enclosing the recessed wall panel.

Stage Four — Belfry: Each face has a buttress terminating midway up in a steep, crocketed and finialed gablet. The central panel is less deeply recessed than those below and contains a large open tracery window set within a deeply recessed Gothic opening, the spring of the arch corresponding with the gablet on each pier. On the cill is a balconette of six fretted quatrefoils. Between the plain piers, above the arch head, is a blind arcade of fretted trefoil-headed lancets. Between this stage and the parapet is a moulded stringcourse with projecting gargoyles at the corners (set at 45 degrees) and at the centre of each elevation.

Parapet: The corner gargoyles support flying buttresses rising to fretted pinnacles above the piers below. Each pinnacle has an open fretwork panel and a crocketed pinnacle with crown and cruciform lightning conductor. They are linked by an open balustrade of delicate lancet panels with a moulded coping. At the centre of each balustrade, resting on the central gargoyle, is a smaller pinnacle set at 45 degrees, similar in character to the corner pinnacles. The roof is leaded and pyramidal with a large wrought iron cross finial at the centre.

Sacristy

This two-storey building is linked to the north side of the north side chapel and the east side of the north transept by a one-storey link block. The main block has a hipped, natural-slated roof; the link block roof is pitched and natural-slated with skylights. A granite chimney rises from the wall head off-centre on the east elevation. Walls are ashlar granite with chamfered corners, a moulded stringcourse at eaves level, and a crenellated parapet above.

The east elevation is abutted to the left by the link block with crenellated parapet. It has a single one-over-one sliding sash window in a chamfered reveal to the east, and a similar window to the south cheek. The main north elevation has five windows to each floor, all one-over-one sliding sashes in chamfered Tudor-arched reveals: one to the right and two pairs (one to the centre, one to the left) on each floor. All ground floor windows have bars over. At basement level, below the centre windows, is a Tudor-headed basement door in a two-stage opening accessed by a flight of steps from the left. The door is tongue-and-groove panelled. Below the left window is a two-light opening at ground level with wire mesh over.

The south elevation is abutted at ground floor level by the link block; at first floor level are two windows, one to either side, matching those on the east elevation. The west elevation is abutted by the link block and has no window openings. To the right of the north elevation the link block gable is set back from the main elevation, with stepped crenellations and a cross finial; its door is tongue-and-groove-sheeted within a chamfered Tudor-headed opening. The north elevation has one window to ground floor left, one window spanning between ground and first floor to the right, and one at first floor level above it, all detailed as those on the east elevation.

Chapter Rooms

To the northeast corner of the site is a single-storey flat-roofed modern chapter room. Walls are ashlar granite with a chamfered base course and stepped crenellations at eaves level. A date stone over the main doors records that it was built in 1984. The central block is a meeting room with three pairs of timber ogee-headed windows. To the right is a projecting block with a timber door and, to its right, two timber square-headed windows. Three further similar windows appear on the return wall to the right side. The left block has four square-headed windows to its façade, returning to the meeting room wall with stained tongue-and-groove double doors.

Setting

On each side of the front steps, railings enclose the approach, rising from gate piers to the left and right on Hill Street. The railings are wrought iron resting on a chamfered granite base wall. The gate piers are octagonal with chamfered plinths, panelled faces, and decorative wrought iron lamps with globe lanterns. Beyond the gates the railings continue to enclose the site, supported by occasional granite piers with chamfered edges and stepped copings. To the south is a formal garden with lawns, paths and flowerbeds, occasional ornate stone garden ornaments, and some benches. The south, north and east boundaries are high wet-dashed walls. The cathedral sits within a conservation area.

Historical Development

Construction began on this site, then known as Seymour's Green, in 1825. The foundation stone was laid on 8 June 1825 and the building was dedicated in 1829 — apparently the first such dedication ceremony in a Catholic church following the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act in that same year, marking the removal of the Penal Laws. At that time the building comprised a chancel and nave only.

Between 1888 and 1890 the transepts, sacristy and north tower were added. In 1891 a new high altar was erected in memory of Dr Leahy. A new pulpit, designed by G. C. Ashlin RHA of Dublin, was installed in 1893. New bells were installed in the bell tower in 1898.

Between 1904 and 1909, the east end was rebuilt to create the present sanctuary and side chapels, and a new sacristy was erected to the northeast. The original west front was dismantled and the church extended westward by one bay towards the street, with the addition of the present frontage. The interior mosaics, organ, heating and lighting were also installed during this period.

In 1919 what had been known as the Pro-Cathedral of St Patrick's was elevated to the status of the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Colman. The chapter rooms were built behind the cathedral in 1984. A new altar, designed by Felix Forte of McLean and Forte, Belfast, was dedicated in 1990, at which time the sanctuary was rearranged, the altar repositioned and the seating replanned, all in response to the Second Vatican Council.