The 120th anniversary of Belfast’s St Anne’s Cathedral has been marked with a special cross-community service.
Church leaders and politicians attended the service on Sunday to mark 120 years since the Cathedral in Belfast’s Donegall Street opened its doors.
Those attending included Sinn Féin’s North Belfast MP John Finucane, DUP leader Gavin Robinson, and Alliance leader Naomi Long.
Church of Ireland Primate and Archbishop of Armagh, the Rev John McDowell, led the service, and said: “Here we are, a large group of people drawn from political and civic life, representative of many thousands of people who can’t be here today…and we all find ourselves in the same boat.
“Which is precisely where the people of Belfast, the people of Northern Ireland, the people of this island actually are. In the same boat. Although we may look at it from different angles, we are nevertheless facing a common reality.
“And that reality has so many challenges and threats that it is impossible for any one person or one tradition to carry it alone.”
He added: “In this great cathedral today, what belongs together has been brought; brought together to give thanks, and to ask God, together, for his blessing on this cathedral, on this city and on this world. Together.”
The service saw 500 new chairs dedicated by Archbishop McDowell, which will now replace the Cathedral’s original chairs which have been in use for the Cathedral’s full 120 years.
The new chairs were paid for through a fundraising campaign and are designed to be more comfortable for visitors and more easily stacked to make room for other events.
