Twin spires rising over the Falls area mark St Peter's Cathedral, the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Down and Connor in west Belfast. For generations its towers have been a familiar sight on the city skyline. They are widely seen as a symbol of homecoming for people from the surrounding district. The church was built to serve the fast-growing Catholic population of 19th-century Belfast, on land given for the purpose. The foundation stone was laid in 1860. It was consecrated in 1866, after several years of building paid for by a parish of modest means. The design followed a 13th-century Gothic style. The distinctive twin spires that give the church its character were not added until 1886, when funds finally allowed. They were designed by the architect Mortimer Thompson. The spires were fitted with a carillon of bells cast at a Dublin foundry, which rang out over the surrounding streets. Their chimes feature in local songs and memories. Built largely of grey sandstone, the church has an interior of tall pillars and pointed arches, with an altar of fine stone and marble. A sculpture over the main door shows the freeing of Saint Peter. Although it had long served the functions of a cathedral, it was only formally given that status in 1986. It remains the seat of the local Catholic bishop. Standing in a part of the city that saw great change and conflict during the 20th century, the church has been a constant presence through it all. The cathedral serves a busy parish and is the focus of many diocesan services and ordinations through the year, with its choir and music playing an important part in worship. The interior was reordered in the late 20th century when the church became a cathedral. Set just off the Falls Road, the church stands at the heart of a community with a strong sense of identity, and its twin spires remain a point of orientation for the whole of west Belfast.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: St Peter's Square, Belfast, United Kingdom

Opening Date: 14/10/1866