The story behind the St Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh Christmas stamp

As many readers will recall, at the beginning of last month it was announced that one of this year’s Royal Mail Christmas stamps features an illustration of St Patrick’s Cathedral on the Hill of Armagh. In the video below, the Dean of Armagh, the Very Revd Shane Forster, shares the background story as to how Armagh was chosen for this unique honour and provides some additional information on some of the details included in Penzance-based artist Judy Joel’s special design.

The image on the stamp includes the light shining out from within the Cathedral providing a symbol of hope and a welcome for people from all parts of the community to enter into a sacred place founded by St Patrick as his ‘Great Stone Church’.

Dean Forster remarks: “I’m very pleased for our Cathedral, for Armagh and for the Church of Ireland, but I’m pleased for the Church in general to be recognised for its role within the community.”

The interview, as part of the Church of Ireland’s Inspiring angles series, also recalls the visit of His Majesty King Charles III to the Cathedral in May 2023, on his first royal visit outside England after the Coronation, when he met with the Church Leaders and children from local schools.

You can watch more Inspiring Angles videos here.