How Belfast Cathedral is celebrating the past and planning for the future after 120 years of worship

St Anne's Cathedral is a national treasure in Northern Ireland, a building that has played a significant part in shaping the history of the city of Belfast for more than a century.

In 2024, St Anne's still plays an important role in the spiritual, cultural and civic life of Belfast and beyond. For 120 years, it has been the scene of moments of profound joy and deep sorrow.

The Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev Stephen Forde, has been at the helm of St Anne's since 2018. Just over a year into his new role, the eyes of the world were centred on St Anne's as thousands gathered for the heartbreaking funeral of murdered journalist Lyra McKee.

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The 29-year-old was shot dead by dissident republicans in April 2019 while observing a riot in the Creggan area of Derry, an event that sparked outrage across the world.

Speaking to Belfast Live ahead of the anniversary events this weekend, Dean Forde reflected: "Lyra McKee was a child of the peace process and somebody who thought that the violence of The Troubles was in the past and yet she was caught up in that.

"When the family approached me about having her funeral in the Cathedral, it seemed to be the right thing to do and was a huge event for us in Northern Ireland."

Irish President Michael D Higgins, former prime minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar were among the mourners who attended her funeral and where Catholic priest Fr Martin Magill received a standing ovation when he asked why it took her death to unite politicians.

"For me that's a hugely important moment in the life of the Cathedral as it was for our province as I do believe it was out of that moment that the politicians realised it was absolutely imperative for them to return to Stormont and get the Executive up and going again," Dean Forde added.

Again just months later, the Cathedral was forced to close its doors to the public along with many other places of worship around the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Dean Forde found himself conducting online services in an empty building.

More recently, the Cathedral welcomed the new King Charles III and Queen Camilla for a Service of Reflection as he carried out a tour of the UK nations just days after coming to the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Just last month, Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet representing a 10-year-old Syrian refugee child, made her way into St Anne's to find her place of rest and sanctuary for the night after spending the day travelling to various key locations throughout Belfast.

Every Christmas, St Anne's is the scene of the annual Black Santa Sit-out for charities on the steps, a tradition started in December 1976 by a former Dean Sammy Crooks and maintained by his successors, Deans Jack Shearer, Houston McKelvey, John Mann and the current incumbent, Stephen Forde.

Dean Crooks was dubbed Black Santa by the media because he wore a black Anglican clerical cloak to protect him from the elements, and the name has stuck for more than four decades.

Ahead of the 120th anniversary events this weekend, Dean Forde reflected on the Cathedral's key role in city life down the years: "It's a place where people come for all sorts of services of celebration and commemoration. St Anne's remains a Cathedral for the city and people of Belfast and a key visitor centre, a place of solace, comfort, reflection and faith."

Two special services will take place this Sunday, June 2nd to mark 120 years of worship within the walls of St Anne’s and the consecration of the Cathedral’s nave.

The 11am service provides an opportunity for civic, church, political and community leaders to celebrate 120 years of ministry and Christian witness to the City of Belfast and across the province.

The preacher is the Most Rev John McDowell, Church of Ireland Primate and Archbishop of Armagh. During the service, the Archbishop will dedicate 500 new chairs as Dean Forde explained: “For 120 years, the Nave’s original wooden chairs have served to seat capacity congregations and individuals seeking prayer and solace.

“Sturdy and robust, they have seated soldiers going to war and civic dignitaries attending services. But they have never been considered comfortable and are difficult to move for concerts and events which provide the Cathedral with vital income.”

The new chairs - 200 cushioned and 300 wooden seats - will be easier to move and stack.

Dean Forde said many have been given in memory of family members and by members of the Cathedral community. Others have been given in thanksgiving, and a number of the commercial companies who supply the Cathedral have made significant contributions.

It will cost just over £95,000 to replace all 500 chairs in the Nave, more than half of which has been raised in advance of the Service of Dedication.

On Sunday afternoon at 3.30pm, a second service of celebration will be held, to which clergy and representatives of every parish in the dioceses of Connor and Down and Dromore have been invited.

Dean Forde said: “This very special service is an opportunity for our current generation of clergy and people to celebrate 120 years of ministry and Christian witness at the heart of these three dioceses, and for the city and province which St Anne’s was built to serve.”

But for St Anne's, this 120th anniversary is also an opportunity to plan for the future: “The world of 2024 is entirely changed from that for which St Anne’s was built in 1904,” the Dean added.

“Then, the Christian Church was self-confident and church attendance assumed across the population. The world which we face today and tomorrow is radically different. The place of Christianity can no longer be assumed.

“The future of our great Cathedral is not guaranteed. We can no longer depend on wealthy industrialists to finance our upkeep. Instead, we must ensure that the population of our city takes this Cathedral to their hearts, because our Christianity is relevant, creative and visionary.”

In order to achieve certain priorities it has identified, the Cathedral plans to establish a ‘BC120 campaign’ which will seek new sources of funding and new partners to offer their expertise and their commitment to Belfast Cathedral, helping to sustain its daily operation and to fund the new projects and developments.

Both the 11am and 3.30pm services this Sunday are open to the public and all are welcome.

Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.

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