Well over 100 people attended a special service on Saturday 6 August to celebrate the 140th Anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral of The Isles in Millport. The ceremony, and preceding lunch, was attended by Her Majesty the Queen’s representative Mr John Duncan, the Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, Arran & Cumbrae, and his wife. Also in attendance were the Rt Revd William Nolan, Roman Catholic Bishop of Galloway, The Rt Revd Dr Idris Jones, former Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Revd Sandy McCallum and Marjory Mackay of Cumbrae Parish Church and a goodly number of other regional church dignitaries. The service was conducted by the Revd Canon Alec Boyd, who received the honours of the Royal British Legion at its beginning and the sermon was given by Dr Jones. The grand procession in the cathedral of choir and clergy was a delightful spectacle of red and gold.

Alastair Chisholm, recently awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to music and culture on the island, drew together a choir of first class singers who were accompanied at the organ by Jonathan Cohen. Music in the service included William Harris’s introit ‘Behold the Tabernacle of God’ and the magnificent Collegium Regale setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Sir Charles Wood as well as his spectacular ‘Hail Gladdening Light’. Hymns included the Hymn for Cumbrae, written for the Cathedral by Christine McIntosh and ‘Come Holy Ghost’, sung at the original opening of the college in 1851.

Andrew Wright, warden of the College said “This has been a truly wonderful celebration of the last 140 years of worship and ministry at the Cathedral & College and we are honoured to have had so many people come to celebrate with us today. We look forward now to continuing the founder’s vision of being a place of worship, learning and renewal for the next 140.”

When College & Collegiate Church of The Holy Spirit was opened in 1851 it was always expected that the Collegiate Church would in time become the Cathedral of the Diocese of The Isles. When the founder, GF Boyle, 6th Earl of Glasgow, signed the buildings and grounds over to the Cumbrae Trustees in 1875 the way was clear for Cathedralization. Thus at a ceremony on 3 May 1876 the Cathedral was consecrated by Bishop George Richard Mackarness with Dr Eden, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, in attendance. Also present was Dr Charles Todd Quintard, Bishop of Tennessee USA.

Thanks to Karen Brodie for the photos.