St. Columb's Cathedral

St. Columb's Cathedral Review

The first Protestant cathedral built in the United Kingdom after the Reformation, this houses the oldest and largest bells in Ireland (dating from the 1620s). It's a treasure house of Derry Protestant emblems, memorials, and relics from the siege of 1688-89; most visitors come to see the keys that locked the four main gates of the city during the siege. The church was built in 1633 in simple Planter's Gothic style, with an intricate corbeled roof and austere spire. In the vestibule is the 270-pound mortar ball that was fired over the wall during the Siege of Derry, with an invitation to surrender sent by King James. Legend has it that when it was read, every man, woman, and child in the city rushed to the walls and shouted, "No surrender!"—a Protestant battle cry to this day. The attached Chapter House Museum has the oldest surviving copy of a map of Derry (from 1600) and the Bible owned by Governor George Walker during the siege. View the interesting display cases and information panels. The tower and spire was restored in 2008, and in 2010/11 the cathedral underwent an impressive ?4 million renovation. The work included repairing and upgraded furnishings, and restoring the stonework and stained-glass windows. A new LED lighting system shows up the beauty of the elegant Canadian pine ceiling. Knowledgeable tour guides are on hand, or you can hire an audio tour for ?3.