St Mary’s cathedral turns 190

[caption id="attachment_99007" align="aligncenter" width="500"] BIG DAY: The Very Rev Sharon Nell prepares to celebrate the 190th anniversary of the Cathedral of St
Mary the Virgin in Port Elizabeth tomorrow. Picture: Eugene Coetzee/The Herald.[/caption]

A “GRAND old lady” of Port Elizabeth is turning 190 this month and is celebrating the milestone with a flower festival, Taizé worship and thanksgiving service.

The foundation stone for the Cathedral of St Mary The Virgin – one of the oldest churches in the city – was laid in September 1825.

The celebrations will start tomorrow with a flower festival at 9am and Taizé worship at 5pm. Sunday will be used for a thanksgiving service at 9am.

The Anglican cathedral, situated just off Govan Mbeki Avenue, is in immaculate condition with its red carpet and tiled roof.

The Very Reverend Sharon Nell, who took over the parish in 2011, said the celebration was all about God’s providence and guidance.

“The presence of God can be felt in the walls of this building. Religion remains significant. God hasn’t changed and His significance remains the same as it was yesterday, as it is today and will be the same tomorrow,” Nell said. - Hendrick Mphande