The first church we visited was the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral of the Falkland Islands. It seems odd that a town of approximately 1500 people can have a cathedral, but there it stands, the southernmost cathedral in the world. And when a town has a cathedral it is then called a city. The building was consecrated in 1882, and in 1933 two huge whale jawbones were joined together at the front of the church to serve as an archway. Those jawbones are still standing there. The second church is St. Mary's Catholic Church, consecrated in 1899. I found it interesting in that both churches seem to have a resident cat. The Cathedral has a white and gray cat whom I met on the lawn in front of the church. She didn't seem to mind visitors, and she didn't run away from them, ensconced as she was right there on the lawn. I know she's lived there for at least a few years because I saw her photo in a picture on the ship. St. Mary's has a yellow and white cat that probably is male since I found him sleeping on the floor of the altar area. He didn't make a move as many people entered the church, walked around, and then left. The fact that he was right in the altar area and didn't move a muscle when people came close to him made me realize that he doesn't have to be concerned about his position and must therefore be a part of the church personel. I figure that there might a rodent problem in Stanley and the cats, therefore, are mousers. In any case, they made the not too thrilling churches interesting to me.
Click a picture to see a larger view.
Christ Church Anglican Cathedral
The Whale Jawbone Arch
Interior of the Cathedral
Laura and Foone Under the Whale Jaw Bone Arch
The Cathedral Cat
Plant Growing on the Lawn of the Cathedral
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Interior of the Church
St. Mary's Altar -- See the Cat Sleeping in the Sunlight at the Front of the Altar Area
Close Up of St. Mary's Cat
Painting Below the Choir Loft
