Cathedral of the Isles, Millport, United Kingdom

The Cathedral of the Isles is the cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the town of Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae. George Boyle, 6th Earl of Glasgow, was benefactor of the cathedral and the associated theological college and commissioned William Butterfield to design the building. Butterfield was one of the great architects of the Gothic revival and also designed St Ninian's Cathedral in Perth. Construction finished in 1849 and the cathedral opened in 1851 as a collegiate church. The Chapel of the College of the Holy Spirit was raised to the status of a cathedral in 1876.

Formal gardens and woodland surround the cathedral, the tallest building on Great Cumbrae and the smallest cathedral in the British Isles. The tower dominates the buildings: at 123 ft, the tower and spire are three times the length of the 40 ft nave.

In the entrance porch is an interesting collection of Celtic crosses, all of which were excavated on the island in Victorian times.

References:

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User Reviews

Gerard Ward (9 months ago)
Beautiful building set in a beautiful wooded area.

G (12 months ago)
Didn't stay in the guest house but the location is beautifully peaceful and relaxing. Well worth a vist?

Marbey “O***os” Laflo (2 years ago)
We were lucky enough to get in the Cathedral to enjoy a mesmerised performance piano and violin music ? ? was magical.. thank you.

Jake Fisher (2 years ago)
Wonderful building, kind and considerate clergy and arrived during choir practice! Very spiritual and welcoming

John Sellars (2 years ago)
The smallest Cathedral I'm the UK (and possibly Europe), this is a magnificent building in the Gothic style.

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Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

Cathedral of the Isles

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