Exterior

The most impressive of all the churches built in Ulster in the early 17th century is St Columb’s Cathedral in Londonderry City - the first Protestant Cathedral built in Britain or Ireland following the Reformation – and a fine example of “Planters Gothic” architecture.

Work on the new cathedral began in 1628 and was completed in 1633. The cathedral is named after St Columb, aka Columba (the little dove) AD 521 – 597 - the patron saint of Londonderry.  He is credited with spreading Christianity in Scotland where he founded an abbey on Iona in 563 AD.

During the 1689 Siege, lead was taken from the roof of the Cathedral for ammunition and the walls around the Cathedral were built higher for protection, while gravestones were laid flat.