Tag Archives: Armagh Cathedral

Scenes from a Cathedral’s History


‘In 1561 Armagh was in possession of the English who fortified the cathedral, making it a place of arms as a check upon O’Neill. Shane, in revenge, attacked and captured the city, burning it, with the Cathedral and the Franciscan Monastery; his excuse for this wanton destruction being “that he would not have the English to lodge therein.” Camden writes, “In our memory, the church and city of Armagh were so foully defaced by the rebel, Shane O’Neill, that they lost all their ancient beauty and glory, and nothing remaineth at this day, but a few small wattled cottages, with the ruinous walls of a monastery, priory, and the primate’s palace”.’
From the Ulster Journal of Archaeology, Volume II,  October 1895.





‘Immediately after Dr Robinson’s promotion to the primacy [1765], he determined to repair the cathedral, to which purpose he appropriated a considerable sum…His Grace commenced his improvements by slating the western aisle which had been previously shingled, and by fitting it up in a more complete manner for divine service. It is to be lamented that in effecting this latter object, he removed the ancient and beautiful tracery windows which had adorned the building and substituted inelegant lights in their place (since superseded). About the same time, he presented to the choir a new organ, possessed of many stops, and of most pleasing and powerful tones…In 1782, ” Primate Robinson had determined to build a tower on the cathedral of Armagh, in imitation of that of Magdalen College, in Oxford. His architect, Mr. Cooley, examined the walls and gave his opinion as to the practicability of the undertaking. The work went on till the close of the year 1783. The tower, which was to have been elevated 101 feet in height, had been, at this period, raised 60 feet above the roof of the church, when the north-west pier and the arches springing out of it shewed symptoms of giving way by over pressure. Precautions were instantly taken, arches built up in the body of the church, and additional buttresses joined. Thus aided, it was deemed by the best architects fully sufficient to bear the proposed tower: the more ponderous part of the building having been already raised, and three-fourths of the whole weight placed on piers and arches duly and powerfully supported. Some old ladies, however, who were in the habit of regularly attending divine service, imagined that the entire fabric would tumble and bury the congregation in its ruins. Their fears spread and the church was in danger of being deserted. Primate Robinson then ordered the new tower to be pulled down, even to the roof of the building from whence it sprang, that is, to the very spot from which the old one, carrying its spire, cross and weather-cock had been removed. Thus ended the Magdalen steeple.’
From Historical Memoirs of the City of Armagh, by James Stuart (1900)





‘Lord John George Beresford succeeded to the Primacy in 1822, and to him may properly be ascribed the beautiful appearance which our venerable Cathedral presents to the eye of the beholder. At what period it was constructed, in the form which it has come down to tho present time, is a matter of great uncertainty. Inglis writes that it is the ” oldest Cathedral Church in Ireland. Part of this venerable edifice was erected in the reign of Henry III, and the remainder part in the time of Edward III.” Shortly after his promotion to the See, his Grace determined to repair the ancient structure, and Mr. Cottingham, an eminent architect, was instructed to examine the building. That gentleman, having minutely examined it, gave a most favourable report of its condition, stating that about £8,000 would put it into serviceable order. This sum his Grace at once consented to pay. The foundation stone of one of the piers was laid in great solemnity on 21st May, 1834, in presence of about 0,000 persons, who came to witness the interesting ceremony. During divine service, the Cathedral Choir, assisted by an instrumental band placed on an orchestra, temporarily fitted up, performed the Dettingen Te Deum, and several anthems from the Messiah.’
From Record of the City of Armagh, by Edward Rogers (1861)


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Circumstances of a Peculiarly Distressing Nature


Another funerary monument in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, this one carved by Sir Francis Chantrey in 1826. It represents the Hon William Stuart, Archbishop of Armagh who died in London in 1822 at the age of 68 owing to an unfortunate error. As recounted by The Gentleman’s Magazine at the time: ‘The death of his Grace took place under circumstances of a peculiarly distressing nature, which have excited in the breast of every human being, to whose knowledge they have come, feelings of the deepest regret and commiseration. This melancholy event was unhappily occasioned by an unfortunate mistake in administering a quantity of laudanum instead of a draught. His Lordship was attended in the morning of the 6th by Sir H. Halford, who wrote a prescription for a draught which was immediately sent to the shop of Mr Jones, the apothecary, in Mount-street, in order that it might be prepared. His Lordship having expressed some impatience that the draught had not arrived, Mrs Stuart enquired of the servants if it had come; and being answered in the affirmative, she desired that it might be brought to her immediately. The man had just before received it, together with a small phial of laudanum and camphorated spirits, which he occasionally used himself as an external embrocation. Most unluckily, in the hurry of the moment, instead of giving the draught intended for the Archbishop, he accidentally substituted the bottle which contained the embrocation. The under butler instantly carried it to Mrs Stuart without examination, and that lady not having a doubt that it was the medicine which had been recommended by Sir H. Halford, poured it into a glass and gave it to her husband!- In a few minutes, however, the dreadful mistake was discovered; upon which Mrs Stuart rushed from the presence of the Archbishop into the street, with the phial in her hand, and in a state of speechless distraction. Mr Jones the apothecary having procured the usual antidote, lost not a moment in accompanying Mrs Stuart back to Hill-street where he administered to his Lordship, now almost in a state of stupor, the strongest emetics and used every means which his skill and ingenuity could suggest, to remove the poison from his stomach, all, however, without effect.’
And the moral of this unhappy episode: always check anything brought to you by the under butler…