St German’s Way – 5th century
The History
The route from the Derby Road to the Cathedral celebrates the arrival of St German, a disciple of St Patrick who came to the Isle of Man as first Bishop in 447. This makes the diocese 150 years older than Canterbury. Reliefs along the route tell the story of St German and an icon can be found in the Cathedral.
German’s story is told in a ballad of ‘Manannan Beg Mac y Leir’ – the origins of the ballad are obscure but it was composed in Manx Gaelic, possibly at the beginning of the 16th century. Some extracts translated into English speak of the Cathedral’s patron St. German:
Thus it was that Christianity first came to Man,
By Saint Patrick planted in,
And to establish Christ in us,
And also in our children.
He then blessed Saint German,
And left him a bishop in it,
To strengthen the faith more and more,
And faithfully built chapels in It.
For each four quarterlands he made a chapel
For people of them to meet to prayer;
He also built German Church, in Peel Castle,
Which remaineth there until this day.
Before German had finished his work
God sent for him, and he died,
As ye yourselves know, that this messenger
Cannot be put off by using means.
He died, and his corpse was laid
Where a great bank had been, but soon was levelled;
A cross of stone is set at his feet
In his own church, in Peel Castle. …
The Design
A new pedestrian entrance route from the Derby Road bus terminus links the Cathedral and the Hall. The route aims to unify the different architectural style so the site with the neo- Gothic Cathedral and the Arts and Craft Hall.
Along the route are gates, believed to have been made in France and dated 1762 (prior to the French Revolution), which have come from the Nunnery Mansion in Douglas where they once gave carriage access to the kitchen garden.
Either side of the route is a largely evergreen planting scheme which includes: Griselinea, Hebe, Yew and Evergreen Oak trees. Seasonal planting includes, in spring, the red and yellow ‘Cape Cod’ Tulip, (the colour of the Manx flag).