Ardboe Monastery is an ancient monastery founded in 590 by Saint Colman. In the 16th century, the old church built by St. Colman gave way to the present church (in ruins). The entire monastery was destroyed by fire in the 20th century. One of the main remains of the former monastery is the High Cross, the first one built in Ulster. There are a total of twenty-two panels of Old and New Testament scenes on all four sides of the cross.
St. Patrick's Cathedral was built between 1840 and 1904 to replace the medieval St. Patrick's Cathedral, which was recovered by the Church of Ireland during the Protestant Reformation. Construction of the Gothic Revival building began on St. Patrick's Day.
Christ Church Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral of Lisburn. Construction of the present building began in 1708. A church was built on the site of the cathedral in the early 1600s by Sir Fulke Conway as a chapel of ease for his new castle. It was consecrated in 1623 and dedicated to St Thomas, but was destroyed with much of the town during the rebellion of 1641. The church was soon rebuilt and in 1662 St Thomas's was designated by Charles II as the cathedral church of the diocese of Down and Connor and renamed Christ Church Cathedral. However, the cathedral burned down in 1707.
The Cathedral Church of Christ the Redeemer in Dromore was built in the mid 17th century. The first church on the site was the abbey church of the monastery founded by the future St Colman of Dromore around 510. Nothing remains of it, but it became the first cathedral in the diocese of Dromore. In 1870 the church was further enlarged with the addition of a baptistery and the location of the organ, and in 1899 an additional nave was added, giving the building its present layout.
How is Religiana helping to conserve and promote Religious Heritage in Europe and why should you get involved?
Find out about Religiana
Are you a tourism organisation or religious heritage sites manager? Discover the advantages of becoming a partner.
See current partners
We can keep you up to date with the latest news from Religiana and religious heritage conservation across Europe.
Sign up to the FRH newsletter