St. Macartin's Cathedral
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
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The Church of Ireland - part of the Anglican Communion
Services & Meetings
(last updated 30th January 2010)
St. Macartin's Church of Ireland Cathedral has a prominent position in the main street of Enniskillen, the largest town in County Fermanagh. The church has a long and distinguished history, much of which you will find on this website. If you know details that we haven't recorded, tell us and we will publish them!
Click HERE to listen to our bells (recorded in March 2003)
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Rev. Canon Brian Courtney BD MA
Hello, you are very welcome to our website! Whether you are already a church member or a visitor, we invite you to look around - you will find much to interest you!
If you have any comments you can use the form on the "Contact us" page.
If you have any comments you can use the form on the "Contact us" page.
Four Evangelists, One Gospel
I visited the opticians recently and as most of you will know, one of the tests you get there involves identifying which of two sets of circles is clearest. The optician adds a series of lenses and wants to know if you find the object sharper with them or without them. During the Sunday mornings in Lent we have been thinking about the distinctive features of each of the four Gospels. We are blessed to have four different yet similar views of the life and work of
Jesus providing us with different lenses with which to see more clearly why He came, what He did and what it means for us.
In all four accounts of His life we see that the ministry of Jesus has a purpose, He does not simply wander through Galilee teaching and healing, He has a destination in view, Jerusalem; He does not just randomly perform miracles or expel demons, He has a destiny to fulfil, giving his life as a ransom for many. Meeting with Him changes people’s lives – a widow’s sorrow is transformed, a greedy man becomes generous, a prostitute is given dignity, the lost are searched out, the hungry are given food, those who follow him find hope and a place in God’s kingdom.
Holy Week approaches when we would in heart and mind journey again to Jerusalem, make that journey so that as you see the providence and purpose of God in the life of Jesus you might see that providence and purpose worked out in the world of today and in your life today. Don’t waste this season, take the journey so that you might meet afresh with the Lord and know his grace amid your trials and sorrows, and know His forgiveness for your sins and His redeeming hope for your life.
Canon Reggie Twaddell is our guest preacher for Holy Week; the series of united services begin on Palm Sunday evening at seven o’clock in the Presbyterian Church, continuing at 8.00 pm in the Cathedral from Monday to Good
Friday and concluding with Easter evening praise at seven o’clock in the Methodist Church. Canon Twaddell worked as a teacher prior to being ordained and served in several parishes before retiring after a long and faithful
incumbency in the large parish of Portadown.
In a changing world where we no longer speak about things being as safe as the Bank of England it is good to have the built in reminder that Holy Week and Easter bring of the eternal and unchanging message of the Cross and Resurrection. Together let us take the opportunity this special season brings to look again to the One the Gospels focus on, Jesus Christ our Lord.
I visited the opticians recently and as most of you will know, one of the tests you get there involves identifying which of two sets of circles is clearest. The optician adds a series of lenses and wants to know if you find the object sharper with them or without them. During the Sunday mornings in Lent we have been thinking about the distinctive features of each of the four Gospels. We are blessed to have four different yet similar views of the life and work of
Jesus providing us with different lenses with which to see more clearly why He came, what He did and what it means for us.
In all four accounts of His life we see that the ministry of Jesus has a purpose, He does not simply wander through Galilee teaching and healing, He has a destination in view, Jerusalem; He does not just randomly perform miracles or expel demons, He has a destiny to fulfil, giving his life as a ransom for many. Meeting with Him changes people’s lives – a widow’s sorrow is transformed, a greedy man becomes generous, a prostitute is given dignity, the lost are searched out, the hungry are given food, those who follow him find hope and a place in God’s kingdom.
Holy Week approaches when we would in heart and mind journey again to Jerusalem, make that journey so that as you see the providence and purpose of God in the life of Jesus you might see that providence and purpose worked out in the world of today and in your life today. Don’t waste this season, take the journey so that you might meet afresh with the Lord and know his grace amid your trials and sorrows, and know His forgiveness for your sins and His redeeming hope for your life.
Canon Reggie Twaddell is our guest preacher for Holy Week; the series of united services begin on Palm Sunday evening at seven o’clock in the Presbyterian Church, continuing at 8.00 pm in the Cathedral from Monday to Good
Friday and concluding with Easter evening praise at seven o’clock in the Methodist Church. Canon Twaddell worked as a teacher prior to being ordained and served in several parishes before retiring after a long and faithful
incumbency in the large parish of Portadown.
In a changing world where we no longer speak about things being as safe as the Bank of England it is good to have the built in reminder that Holy Week and Easter bring of the eternal and unchanging message of the Cross and Resurrection. Together let us take the opportunity this special season brings to look again to the One the Gospels focus on, Jesus Christ our Lord.
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We are somewhat surprised that there are church members who regularly use the Internet but are unaware that this website exists! So if you find it interesting and/or useful, please spread the word around - the more visitors we have the more encouragement there is to keep it alive.
During our Service of Nine Carols and Lessons Bishop Jackson presented a plaque to Mr Stewart Scott to mark 50 years of Bell Ringing. Mr Raymond Campbell, Rector’s Church Warden also presented a gift token on behalf of the Parish to Stewart and his wife Joyce.
We commend Stewart for his dedication, his loyalty, to this task of bell ringing not only in Enniskillen but in places over the Province, the Republic and in England and Scotland.
Pictured are (from left) Raymond Campbell, Rev Betty Thompson, Stewart Scott and Bishop Michael Jackson.
We commend Stewart for his dedication, his loyalty, to this task of bell ringing not only in Enniskillen but in places over the Province, the Republic and in England and Scotland.
Pictured are (from left) Raymond Campbell, Rev Betty Thompson, Stewart Scott and Bishop Michael Jackson.
Bishop Jackson’s tribute to Stewart Scott
In circumstances of exceptional service to a parish or to the diocese on the part of an individual, the Bishop of Clogher presents to that person a diocesan plaque depicting St Macartan seated and in an attitude of blessing. On Sunday evening, 20th December 2009, during the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Bishop Jackson presented a diocesan plaque to Mr Stewart Scott, Captain of the Bell-tower in St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen and a bell-ringer for over fifty years.
Bishop Jackson said “As we celebrate the service given by Stewart, we remember also the service of members of his family - his brother Nelson, his son Geoffrey and his daughter Barbara - who all have an association with St Macartin’s as ringers.”
Mr Scott is highly respected across the bell-ringing world and has rung in bell-towers throughout Ireland, England and Scotland. His personal energy and infectious enthusiasm combined with an unassuming manner has helped enable bell-ringing to survive in Enniskillen to this day. For residents and visitors to Enniskillen alike, the bells of St Macartin’s are very much part of the landscape. Their pleasing sound calls out to all the people of Enniskillen in a spirit of joy and gladness.
St Macartin’s Cathedral Bells
There are eight bells hanging in the tower. The first two erected in 1715, known in their day as ‘William and Mary’ were manufactured from cannon taken at the Battle of the Boyne, and afterwards given by King William the Third to the Enniskilleners for this purpose. These two were in 1828 cast into one. The Earl of Enniskillen and the Earl of Belmore gave one each in 1841 as did the Hon. and Rev J. C. Maude (rector of the parish for 35 years). The Misses Hall of Inishmore presented three bells, while the eighth was procured from general Parish funds.
These bells hung from oak beams which were pronounced unsafe in1934. These beams were replaced, at that time, by modern steel frames. In addition, two further bells were added. One was the gift of Mrs A. F Maude, Belgard Castle, County Dublin, in memory of her late husband, Captain A. F. Maude. The other bell was donated by John S. Dane, Esq, of Kildare Terrace, London, in memory of the late James Whiteside Dane who did so much in advancing the case for the Enniskillen parish church of St Anne to become the Cathedral Church of St Macartin in Clogher Diocese.
The above information taken from a document on display in the tower and from Enniskillen Parish and Town by WH Dundas (1913).
In circumstances of exceptional service to a parish or to the diocese on the part of an individual, the Bishop of Clogher presents to that person a diocesan plaque depicting St Macartan seated and in an attitude of blessing. On Sunday evening, 20th December 2009, during the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Bishop Jackson presented a diocesan plaque to Mr Stewart Scott, Captain of the Bell-tower in St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen and a bell-ringer for over fifty years.
Bishop Jackson said “As we celebrate the service given by Stewart, we remember also the service of members of his family - his brother Nelson, his son Geoffrey and his daughter Barbara - who all have an association with St Macartin’s as ringers.”
Mr Scott is highly respected across the bell-ringing world and has rung in bell-towers throughout Ireland, England and Scotland. His personal energy and infectious enthusiasm combined with an unassuming manner has helped enable bell-ringing to survive in Enniskillen to this day. For residents and visitors to Enniskillen alike, the bells of St Macartin’s are very much part of the landscape. Their pleasing sound calls out to all the people of Enniskillen in a spirit of joy and gladness.
St Macartin’s Cathedral Bells
There are eight bells hanging in the tower. The first two erected in 1715, known in their day as ‘William and Mary’ were manufactured from cannon taken at the Battle of the Boyne, and afterwards given by King William the Third to the Enniskilleners for this purpose. These two were in 1828 cast into one. The Earl of Enniskillen and the Earl of Belmore gave one each in 1841 as did the Hon. and Rev J. C. Maude (rector of the parish for 35 years). The Misses Hall of Inishmore presented three bells, while the eighth was procured from general Parish funds.
These bells hung from oak beams which were pronounced unsafe in1934. These beams were replaced, at that time, by modern steel frames. In addition, two further bells were added. One was the gift of Mrs A. F Maude, Belgard Castle, County Dublin, in memory of her late husband, Captain A. F. Maude. The other bell was donated by John S. Dane, Esq, of Kildare Terrace, London, in memory of the late James Whiteside Dane who did so much in advancing the case for the Enniskillen parish church of St Anne to become the Cathedral Church of St Macartin in Clogher Diocese.
The above information taken from a document on display in the tower and from Enniskillen Parish and Town by WH Dundas (1913).
Story telling is a popular method of teaching because people listen to stories about things and events that interest them. This is what Jesus did, he told stories, called parables, about everyday situations and he used them to tell people about God! Parables start off as a picture that is familiar to the listener, but as you carefully consider the picture it becomes a mirror in which we, the listener, see ourselves.
Jesus’ listeners knew all about farming and so the Parable of the Sower interested them. In the parable the sower is Jesus Christ and the seed is the Word of God, but the seed can do nothing until it is planted in the soil. Whatever happens depends upon the nature of the soil, and so it is with the Word of God. When a person hears and understands the Word, then the seed is planted in the heart, but whatever happens depends upon the state of the human heart.
The heart is like soil: if it is prepared properly it can receive the seed and produce a fruitful harvest. Seeds produce life and fruit, the Word of God produces new life and the fruit we read about in Galatians 5 “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Jesus described four different kinds of soil. The hard soil along the path, the shallow soil on the rock, the soil filled with thorns and the good soil. Three of these produce no lasting fruit. As they hear this parable listener begin to draw comparisons between the soil and the state of their heart.
But happens if the sower stops sowing the seed? If you sow grass seeds then you get grass! If you sow lettuce seeds you get lettuce. However, if you sow nothing, then you get weeds and thorns! Weeds keep the gardener busy and thorns choke any sign of life. We are living in a world where it is becoming increasingly difficult to sow the Word of God and where the thorn of “political correctness” means:
People are banned from wearing the Christian cross in their workplace,
the Red Cross has banned all signs of Christmas from its shops because they might offend someone,
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, says that children attending faith schools should be taught that homosexuality is "normal and harmless"
Government interference in the affairs of faith schools means that the admission criteria prevents the selection of children on their faith, and the "right" of children at Christian schools not to attend Christian assemblies is being asserted.
These are warning signals that we must heed. But does it really matter that people hear the Word of God? What if the Rev. Betty stopped preaching God’s Word? What if we closed Sunday School? What if we removed Christ from Christmas? Would it make a difference, would we even notice? The reality is that for many people it has already happened!
If we no longer sow the Christian seed, then the consequences are: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5)
Satan will do anything to silence the Word of God and will suggest that: Church isn’t important, it doesn’t matter if you miss Sunday School, prayer is unnecessary, and the Bible is irrelevant! Satan wants to stop the sower and prevent you and your children from hearing God’s Word.
Please make God’s Word a priority in your life and in your home and don’t let God’s Word be silenced in our schools and in our community. If you take away the Word of God, then you take away the hope of salvation. How you respond will determine where you and your family spend eternity.
Karl Saunders
Jesus’ listeners knew all about farming and so the Parable of the Sower interested them. In the parable the sower is Jesus Christ and the seed is the Word of God, but the seed can do nothing until it is planted in the soil. Whatever happens depends upon the nature of the soil, and so it is with the Word of God. When a person hears and understands the Word, then the seed is planted in the heart, but whatever happens depends upon the state of the human heart.
The heart is like soil: if it is prepared properly it can receive the seed and produce a fruitful harvest. Seeds produce life and fruit, the Word of God produces new life and the fruit we read about in Galatians 5 “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Jesus described four different kinds of soil. The hard soil along the path, the shallow soil on the rock, the soil filled with thorns and the good soil. Three of these produce no lasting fruit. As they hear this parable listener begin to draw comparisons between the soil and the state of their heart.
But happens if the sower stops sowing the seed? If you sow grass seeds then you get grass! If you sow lettuce seeds you get lettuce. However, if you sow nothing, then you get weeds and thorns! Weeds keep the gardener busy and thorns choke any sign of life. We are living in a world where it is becoming increasingly difficult to sow the Word of God and where the thorn of “political correctness” means:
People are banned from wearing the Christian cross in their workplace,
the Red Cross has banned all signs of Christmas from its shops because they might offend someone,
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, says that children attending faith schools should be taught that homosexuality is "normal and harmless"
Government interference in the affairs of faith schools means that the admission criteria prevents the selection of children on their faith, and the "right" of children at Christian schools not to attend Christian assemblies is being asserted.
These are warning signals that we must heed. But does it really matter that people hear the Word of God? What if the Rev. Betty stopped preaching God’s Word? What if we closed Sunday School? What if we removed Christ from Christmas? Would it make a difference, would we even notice? The reality is that for many people it has already happened!
If we no longer sow the Christian seed, then the consequences are: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5)
Satan will do anything to silence the Word of God and will suggest that: Church isn’t important, it doesn’t matter if you miss Sunday School, prayer is unnecessary, and the Bible is irrelevant! Satan wants to stop the sower and prevent you and your children from hearing God’s Word.
Please make God’s Word a priority in your life and in your home and don’t let God’s Word be silenced in our schools and in our community. If you take away the Word of God, then you take away the hope of salvation. How you respond will determine where you and your family spend eternity.
Karl Saunders