Armagh Cathedral Featured on Royal Mail Christmas Stamp Collection

Royal Mail’s Christmas stamp collection for this year includes an illustration of St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh, which may be recognizable to residents of Northern Ireland. The festive design depicts the cathedral with carol singers and snow, creating a Christmas scene. The Very Reverend Shane Forster, Dean of Armagh, expressed his pleasure that the cathedral was selected and commended the artist for depicting a “lovely traditional winter scene.” These illustrations were created by Judy Joel, an artist based in Cornwall. Dean Forster extended congratulations to her for producing a distinctive series of seasonal stamps that convey a message of joy and hope during the Christmas period. He further stated, “The cathedrals that feature on the stamps stand as symbols of faith at the very centre of each picture and at the heart of their local communities.” St Patrick’s Cathedral is featured on the second class large Christmas stamp. The collection also includes cathedrals from Liverpool, Bangor, Westminster, and Edinburgh. It is important to note that the Bangor referenced is not the one located in County Down, which, despite its current city status, lacks a cathedral. Instead, the stamp features Bangor in Wales, home to St Deiniol’s Cathedral. Armagh is recognized for having two cathedrals, one of which is St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral. This cathedral is situated on the hill from which the city’s name, Ard Mhacha, meaning “the Height of Macha,” originates. St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral is located on an adjacent hill, less than half a mile away. Tradition holds that St Patrick visited Armagh and requested land from the local chieftain to construct a church. Following an initial refusal, he was granted the site and erected his first church there in 445 AD. The present Church of Ireland cathedral occupies the same ground as St Patrick’s original church, which he decreed should hold supremacy over all churches in Ireland. Consequently, Armagh continues to serve as Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital.