Saint Edan's Cathedral (Ferns)

Detached three- or four-bay double-height Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland cathedral, built 1816-7; dated 1817, on a rectangular plan with single-bay three-stage tower to entrance (west) front on a square plan abutting two-bay single-storey single-cell chapter house. "Restored", 1901-2. Pitched slate roofs with clay ridge tiles, moss-covered cut-granite coping to gables, and cast-iron rainwater goods on slate flagged eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Part repointed coursed rubble stone battered walls with rough hewn rubble stone flush quoins to corners; part repointed coursed rubble stone surface finish to tower with "arrow loop"-detailed piers to corners (bell stage) supporting cut-granite octagonal pinnacles centred on "arrow loop"-detailed crow stepped battlements having cut-granite coping. Pointed-arch window openings with cut-granite sills, timber Y-mullions, and part repointed block-and-start surrounds framing one-over-one timber sash windows without horns having lattice glazing bars (west) or storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels (east). Paired lancet window openings (east) with cut-granite sills, and part repointed block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Lancet window openings centred on lancet "East Window" with part repointed block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having square glazing bars centred on leaded stained glass panels. Pointed-arch openings to tower (bell stage) with cut-granite sills, and part repointed surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings over framing applied timber Y-mullions on louvered timber fittings. Pointed-arch window openings (chapter house) with cut-granite sills, timber Y-mullions, and part repointed surrounds framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Pointed-arch window openings (west) with cut-granite sills, and cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings over framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Interior including vestibule retaining staircase on a dog leg plan with turned timber "spindle" balusters supporting carved timber banister terminating in turned timber newels; square-headed door opening into nave with timber panelled double doors; full-height interior open into roof "restored", 1901-2, with balustraded choir gallery (west) on stop fluted Doric columns supporting Gothic-style timber panelled pipe organ, carpeted glazed terracotta tiled central aisle between reclaimed Maltese Cross-detailed timber pews, cut-white marble Classical-style wall monuments (ob. 1789; 1859) centred on stained glass memorial windows (1902; 1931), exposed strutted King Post timber roof construction with diagonal timber boarded or tongue-and-groove timber panelled polygonal vaulted ceiling in carved timber frame on carved timber cornice, Gothic-style timber panelled pulpit (1907) on an octagonal plan with Gothic-style timber clerk's desk, and pointed-arch chancel arch framing encaustic tiled stepped dais to chancel (east) with wrought iron-detailed barley-twist balusters supporting carved timber communion railing centred on Gothic-style reredos (1918) below stained glass memorial "East Window" (1903); chapter house (west) with timber panelled wainscoting supporting carved timber dado railing, and picture railing below moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling. Set in landscaped grounds on a corner site with tuck pointed granite ashlar piers to perimeter having cut-granite shallow pyramidal capping supporting wrought iron double gates.