1. CASTLE ON SAINT PATRICK’S ISLE GSV
Looking at St Patrick’s Isle from the waterfront, our view is dominated by Peel Castle. This is one of the most important historic and religious sites in the British Isles. Enclosed within a 700m long curtain wall, there are almost two hectares of fortifications built over 700 years, together with a cathedral, a church, chapels and cemeteries. [Photo Credit: BUXTON BOY]
2. THE OLD CATHEDRAL GSV
This is the remains of St German’s Cathedral on the island. The Cathedral was named after one of the early missionaries from Ireland and Iona. The crypt created to contain the relics of St. German was found, during excavation work, nine feet below the 13th century floor level. The old Cathedral was built in three stages. The first and second stages occurred in the 12th and 13th centuries when St. Patrick’s Island was in the possession of the Norse kings. The third stage consisted of the fortification and reconstruction after the Anglo-Scottish struggle for the possession of the Isle of Man in the 14th century. This struggle had resulted in the partial destruction of the Cathedral. [Photo Credit: Uwe Delau]
3. THE NEW ST GERMAN’S PRE 1907 IM
The old cathedral on St Patrick’s Isle fell into disrepair in the 18th century, and it was decided to build a new cathedral to replace St Peter’s Church in the Peel market place. This new cathedral is shown here in this old postcard view, as seen before 1907. Originally the cathedral was built with tower and spire, but a severe gale in 1903 caused extensive damage, and these were removed in 1907. Only the tower was rebuilt. [Photo Credit: Manx Notebook]
4. ENTRY FROM ATHOLL STREET GSV
Returning to the present, we approach the West wall of the Cathedral through the Atholl Street gates – an attractive first view. [Photo Credit: Kristin MW]
5. WEST FACE AND BELLS GP CP
From the West we see the end gable view of the nave with a covered side aisle on either side. The North and South transepts extend at the back. Closer to us is an entry porch at right, and the large tower at left at the Northwest corner of the Cathedral. In 1884 a peel of eight bells manufactured by John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd was installed in the tower. [Photo Credit: From Cathedral Video]
6. WAR MEMORIAL GP
A Celtic War memorial Cross stands to the West of the Cathedral. It carries the text: ‘To the eternal and grateful memory of the men of this parish who laid down their lives for their country and for the whole civilized world in the Second World War 1939 – 1945. Lists of names appear in the panels around the base.
7. SOUTH VIEW IM Gov
We begin our exploration of Peel Cathedral by walking around the outside in an anti-clockwise direction. Here we find the South nave entrance with a gable cross, and four stained glass windows. Above is a set of clear glass lattice clerestory windows. [Photo Credit: IM Government]
8. FOLLOWING AROUND THE SOUTH SIDE
A little further on we come to the South transept. The Cathedral is built of locally quarried red sandstone. [Photo Credit: IM Government]
9. APSE AND GARDEN GSV
At the East end we come to the apse with vestries on either side. A garden sculpture in the foreground is a reminder of the garden setting of this Cathedral. [Photo Credit: Brian Faulkner]
10. APSE GSV
A similar vestry extension stands on the North side of the apse. These vestry windows are of plain glass lattice construction. [Photo Credit: Cliff Cairns]
11. NORTH TRANSEPT GP
We are now standing at the Northeast corner of the Cathedral facing West. Much of the Cathedral gardens extend to our right, and we stop to look at several highlights.
12. LABYRINTH GSV GSV
One interesting feature is the large circular labyrinth completed in 2015. A labyrinth is a path which begins at the outside circumference, and makes its way by devious means to the centre. It differs from a maze in that there are no choices to be made! A visitor follows the labyrinth slowly and prayerfully from ‘the outside world’ to the centre where God is. Many people find it a useful meditative experience. [Photo1 Credit: Henry Uniacke]; [Photo2 Credit: Stewart R. Clarke]
13. KEEILL GSV GSV
Another of the gardens is the Keeill Garden, centred on the remains of this old Celtic chapel. A keeill is a specific type of small simple chapel found on the Isle of Man and built between the 6th and 12th centuries. [Photo1 Credit: Henry Uniacke]; [Photo2 Credit: Cliff Cairns]
14. MAUGHOLD GARDEN GSV
One of the gardens is called the Maughold Garden, named after an historical character, and featuring rocks and stones found on the Isle of Man. The planting is said to show the colours of the Manx tartan. [Photo Credit: Cliff Cairns]
15. CELTIC CROSSES GP GSV (x3)
Back closer to the Cathedral walls is a stand of Celtic crosses. These are in fact replica crosses, with the surviving originals displayed in churches around the island. A list of symbols found on Celtic crosses is given here. [Photos 2–4 Credit: Barbara Callister]
16. TOWER GP GSV
The main entry to St German’s Cathedral is on the North side of the tower. [Photo2 Credit: Cliff Cairns]
17. TOWER ENTRY GSV
The base of the tower gives a spacious entry into the Cathedral. There are several plaques on the walls. Facing us is a list of donors who gave money for the bells. The text reads: ‘To the glory of God and for the service of His house the peal of eight bells in this tower was given by the following inhabitants of the parish of German.’ A list of names follows, and the date 1884. [Photo Credit: Cliff Cairns]
18. FIRST INTERIOR VIEW GP
Our first inside view of the Cathedral is across the back of the nave. We notice the Paschal candle, and the interesting treasury display across the back wall to our right. We shall return to this.
19. NAVE GP
We stand in the central aisle behind the font and look down the nave to the sanctuary apse. The Cathedral is bright and cheerful, decorated in creams and browns. We notice the pulpit with its canopy at far left, and curiously, a menorah at right. Slim columns support Gothic arches, and there are a number of stained glass windows to investigate. This is a pleasant place of worship.
20. NAVE ROOF GSV
the wooden gable roof of the nave is supported by wooden arches resting on corbels in the side walls. [Photo Credit: Cliff Cairns]