Belfast Cathedral
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- At the heart of the Cathedral Quarter Belfast, Saint Anne’s Cathedral is one of the city’s focal places for Christian worship.
- Since its construction in 1899, the Belfast Cathedral has become a much-loved venue for concerts, recitals and carols throughout the year.
- Its magnificent Romanesque structure is also home to an abundance of acclaimed artworks, from mosaics to stained glass windows, and also houses the Titanic Pall dedicated to the tragedy of 1912.
Step into a world of peace and quiet amongst the lively Cathedral Quarter and soak up the history of Belfast’s stunning St Anne’s Cathedral.
This intricate Romanesque design, known for its semi-circular arches spaced throughout the church and needle-like spire, was erected in 1899 in what would become Belfast’s central Cathedral Quarter.
St. Anne’s Cathedral, also known as Belfast Cathedral, was in fact built around an existing parish church, where services continued until the structure was completed. This meant people were attending service whilst the huge cathedral walls were rising in front of their very eyes!
In 2007, the 40-metre high stainless steel spire, named the Spire of Hope, was added to the building and has now become an icon of the Belfast landscape.
Belfast Cathedral is a denomination of the Church of Ireland, part of the Anglican Communion with, uniquely, two Bishop’s Seats.
As well as being a timeless place of worship and sanctuary of peace and prayer in the bustling city of Belfast, St. Anne’s Cathedral also has a rich artistic history and has become a place of cultural significance in its vibrant surrounding Quarter.
Its walls are adorned with colourful stained glass windows and breathtaking mosaics made from Italian glass, as well as elaborate stonework sculptures carved by Morris Harding, Esmond Burton and Rosamond Praeger. The monumental mosaic over the font is said to contain more than 150,000 pieces, created over seven years by sisters Margaret and Gertrude Martin.
Can your family try counting them?
Belfast Cathedral also houses the beautiful Titanic Pall, a navy cross dedicated to those who lost their lives in the 1912 Titanic crash.
The memorial is stitched from silk, cotton, rayon and metallic materials in a deep blue to represent the waters where the Titanic sunk. To learn more about this tragedy and experience the ship itself, don’t miss a visit to the Titanic Belfast whilst you’re in town.
Also located at the cathedral is the Northern Ireland War Memorial, a museum documenting Ireland's role in World War II and the story of the 1941 Belfast Blitz.
You can learn all about these spectacular art pieces, the history of St. Anne’s Cathedral and the intricacies of its Romanesque architecture with guided tours of the church, either from live expert guides or with self-guided audio tours to soak up the atmosphere at your leisure.
The cathedral also hosts tons of Belfast concerts throughout the year, as well as the renowned Choral Evensong events, so be sure to look out for what’s on and make time for this remarkable cathedral on your next visit to Belfast.
What to know before you go
- Belfast Cathedral is open from 11am to 3pm Monday - Thursday, 11am to 4pm Friday - Saturday, and 11am to 12.30pm on Sundays.
- Please be aware that service times are usually at 8am, 1pm and 5.30pm daily, plus 10am on Sundays.
- Plenty of Cathedral Quarter Belfast restaurants and cafés surround the church. Within this trendy area, you can find gastropub Made in Belfast Talbot Street, the Established Coffee café, The Grill, Coppi Restaurant, Pizza Express and more.
- There are ramps into and around the Belfast Cathedral making it accessible for wheelchair users and buggies. There is also an accessible toilet on site and assistance dogs are welcome.
Getting there
- St. Anne’s Cathedral is located in the heart of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.
- They have their own car park on site which you can park securely in, taking credit and debit card payments.
- Belfast’s main train station, Lanyon Place, is a 17-minute walk to the Cathedral. Yorkgate and Great Victoria Street stations are a similar distance away.
- The closest bus stop is Lower Donegall Street, serving the 149 and 573 routes. Buses 1, 2, 11, 12, 96, 163, 168, 563, 566 and 568 also operate in the area.
Belfast United Kingdom Northern Ireland City of Belfast
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Christian Mba is an experienced blogger and content writer with over a decade of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Nigeria and has a keen interest in Python programming. Along with his writing and blogging expertise, he is also an SEO specialist with more than six years of experience. Chris, as he is commonly known, has a passion for music and enjoys playing the piano.
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