Begin St Patrick’s Day at The Cradle of Christianity in Ireland
Where better to begin St Patrick’s Day than at Saul Church, at the site known as the Cradle of Christianity in Ireland.
Tradition holds that St Patrick and his companions landed at the mouth of the Slaney river, a few miles from here, in 432AD.
Patrick encountered Dichu, the local chieftain, who gave him a barn for shelter. The word for barn in Irish was Sabhall, from which we get the anglicised word Saul.
From here Patrick traveled extensively sharing the message of Jesus Christ and he died here on 17 March 461.
Each year the diocese begins its St Patrick’s celebrations with a service of Holy Communion here and afterwards we make a prayer pilgrimage to Down Cathedral and join the Festival Service.
Our speaker at Saul is Methodist President, Revd Dr Laurence Graham and the service begins at 9.15 am. The pilgrimage (a 2 mile walk) leaves at 10.15 am and we are usually joined by pilgrims from all over the world.
All traditions are welcome to worship with us.
Transport to Saul
- From 8.00 am private buses will leave from the Mall for the communion service and pilgrimage.
- The last bus for the communion service leaves at 8.45 am
- The last bus for the pilgrimage leaves at 9.45 am
- The last bus from Saul to the Cathedral leaves at 10.40 am
Parking
Parking at the cathedral is limited but drop–off is possible for those with special access needs. Families arriving at 10.30 am and those attending the service may park at Down High School playing fields beside Downpatrick Primary School. Please follow the signs. This car park will close at 2.30 pm.
Some parking is available on The Mall and there are public car parks within walking distance.
For more than 300 years following Patrick’s death there was an abbey on this site until it was plundered and burnt by Vikings. In the 12th century Saul was refounded as an Augustinian Priory but it too was later plundered in the 14th century by Edward Bruce. One wall of this abbey remains along with an intact monastic cell in the old graveyard.
The present church building, which replaced a very simple building that had been built in 1788, was erected to commemorate the 1500th anniversary of the landing of St Patrick and was opened on All Saint’s Day 1933.
Today prayer and worship continues at Saul as it has done over the centuries.