Who we are
Peel Cathedral is the mother Church of the Diocese of Sodor and Man. The Cathedral had a chequered history and by the end of the eighteenth century it was in ruins. It wasn’t until 1980 that a new Cathedral was established by elevating Peel’s Victorian-Gothic parish church.
Our aim
Our aim is to create a national cultural venue, attracting an additional 20,000 visitors to the Cathedral annually. The Cathedral will offer a visitor experience at no charge.
The Cathedral Quarter Trust has been formed to help the church bring the Cathedral to the centre stage in religious, civic and community life by creating a National Cultural venue. A group of people who have skills in different areas meet quarterly to progress.
The venue will comprise a Conceptual Garden, exhibition space and a refurbished Corrin Hall. (There is a sister trust - The St Germans’s Cathedral Foundation for Music and the Arts which is developing the music and arts side of Cathedral life).
Conceptual Garden
The Cathedral grounds will form a number of garden rooms, telling the story of Christianity in the overall context of Manx history from the 5th century to the present day. Each room will reflect an epoch using:
- planting schemes that evoke the period
- public art - artists on the Isle of Man will create focal points to each garden
- artefacts, including the construction of historic replicas, for example, a Keeill.
The gardens will offer interactive activities for different age groups such as the opportunity to walk a labyrinth, touch plants used by the apothecarist in the Middle Ages and wax-crayon rubbing of Celtic crosses.
Access
The site will offer disabled access and lit thoroughfares will be available, even when the gardens are secured at night.
Exhibition
The Cathedral will provide exhibition space to display artefacts associated with each of the gardens, making use of the treasures it has, for example, Tudor chalices and items belonging to Bishop Wilson. Where artefacts are not available to represent the period, facsimiles, models and technology will be used to bring alive the story.
Art space will be available in the Cathedral.
Visitor Parking
Car parking will be provided for about 30 vehicles with spaces for the disabled.
Refurbishing the Corrin Hall
Alongside the existing community uses of the Corrin Hall, facilities will include:
Toilets & Showers
Providing facilities for ladies and gentlemen, disabled, children and babies. During race fortnights hostel and camping facilities will be available.
Education Centre
Developing an education centre for use by primary and secondary schools.
Shop & Information
Establishing a gift/book shop and an information desk for visitors, which will form the starting/and finishing point of the circular tour of St. German’s.
Farmers Markets
Will be encouraged on a regular basis.
Refectory
Establishing a refectory with 50 indoor covers and 25 ‘picnic area’ covers.
How you can help
This part of the development is in the order of £2.5M. It will be a high quality venue that makes the most of a hidden treasure in the heart of Peel - contributing to its regeneration.
We aim to work in partnership with public and private sponsors to fund the project. Once developed, the project will be self-sustaining, with the trading profits paying for the maintenance. This can only be achieved with everyone capturing the vision and offering help. This may be practical by means of a fundraising event or a donation via our secure ‘Donate’ button above.
This is an inspirational and exciting project and we would love you to join with us. Any feedback is welcome as we believe the community will shape this vision for the 21st Century.
For further information, volunteering or making comments please email [email protected] or [email protected].
