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being next to Wood Quay where excavations have confirmed
the largest Viking settlement was situated.
Christ Church Cathedral is also known as The Cathedral
of the Holy Trinity, and is the Cathedral of the United
Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and Metropolitical
Cathedral of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel.
This cathedral is the elder of the city's two medieval
cathedrals, the other being St. Patrick's Cathedral, which
is within sight of Christ Church, being little more than
a few hundred meters away.
Christ Church is officially claimed as the seat of both
the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic archbishops of
Dublin, however in practice, it has been the cathedral
of only the Church of Ireland since the Reformation.
By the 1870s the church had fallen into a sad state of
repair, but with the architectural guidance of George
Street the church underwent a complete refurbishment.
Christ Church Cathedral is truly one of the most impressive
churches in all of Ireland and can boast many incredible
highlights. Among them are:
The Great Nave - 68 feet high and features some
of Ireland's most lovely Gothic arches
The Medieval Lectern - made of beautiful brass
and was hand wrought during the Middle Ages
The Lady Chapel - used for Eucharist celebrations
The Lord Mayor's Pew
Romanesque doorways - the most notable is the
one out in the front garden that leads into the south
transept and has excellent details for 12th century
Irish stonework
Mosaic floor tiles - based on the original medieval
design found in parts of the church. This particular
collection is about 8 feet in diameter and line the
path down the center of the pews to the altar. Other
intricate designs can be found around the church, each
nave having it's own design.
The tomb of Strongbow - just inside the main
doors. This is not the actual tomb of Strongbow but
an effigy, though he is buried somewhere within the
church walls. There is a smaller effigy beside the Strongbow
tomb of unknown origin. It's possible that this is either
the original medieval Strongbow effigy, that of his
lady wife, or his son.
Chapel of St. Laud - within the chapel is the
"Heart of St. Laurence O'Toole", which is
a wooden heart shaped container sealed within a small
iron barred box. Inside is the heart of the one time
archbishop.
The Heart of St. Laurence O'Toole - born Lorcán
Ua Tuathail in Castledermot, County Kildare in 1128
and known as Laurence O'Toole. Died November 1180 in
Normandy France. O'Toole was known as an ascetic. He
wore a hair-shirt, never ate meat and fasted every Friday
on bread and water. When he entertained, his guests
lacked for nothing while he colored his water to look
like wine as not to spoil the feast. Each Lent he returned
to Glendalough where he lived in St. Kevin's Cell, a
sort of cave over the Upper Lake, for forty days. Due
to the number of miracles that occurred at his tomb,
he was canonized in 1225 by Pope Honorius III. In 1442,
his skull was brought back to Britain by Sir Rowland
Standish (relation to Captain Myles Standish, British
military advisor to the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony
arriving off the Mayflower) who fought at Agincourt.
The bones were interred at the Parish Church of Chorley,
now called the Church of St. Laurence. However the bones
disappeared in the Reformation under Henry VIIIs rule.
His heart was preserved in Christ Church Cathedral and
can be found at the back of the church in a timber heart
shaped box bound in an iron cage.
The crypt - is the largest in Great Britain
and Ireland, currently houses monuments that were removed
from the church during its restoration as well as several
oddities including the purrfect mummification of a cat
and mouse that were found inside an organ pipe in the
1860's.
The crypt is open to the public and has recently been
refurbished to include an audio/visual program, displays
of gold and silver, and costumes.
Church bells - The church had one bell from
1038, but by 1440 there were three bells in the tower.
On 11 march 1597, a accidental gunpowder explosion nearby
damaged the tower and cracked the bells. This explosion
also damaged the tower at St. Audoen's Church, Dublin's
oldest parish church which is still in use today. In
1670, six new bells were cast from cannon metal and
hung in the tower. Two more were added in 1738, and
another four in 1878. Seven more bells were added in
1999, giving the tower a total of 19 bells, a world
record for bells rung this way.
The following is a brief timeline for Christ Church Cathedral:
1038 - The Vikings built a wooden cathedral
1172 - Archbishop Laurence O'Toole and Strongbow
commission a stone church to replace the timber one
1200 - A chapel to St. Laurence O'Toole was added
1230 - The extant nave was completed
1240 - The stone church is finally completed
1300 - Provisions were made to acknowledge both
Christ Church and St. Patrick's as cathedrals
1358 - The Long Quire was added, extending the
old choir by about 10 meters
1487 - Seeking to depose Henry II, 10 year old
Lambert Simnel is crowned "King of England,"
the coronation was held here for the boy pretender to
the throne of England
1493 - the Choir School was founded
1541 - King Henry VIII makes changes to the constitution
of the cathedral
1547 - King Edward VI formerly suppressed St.
Patrick's Cathedral and ordered its silver, jewels and
ornaments to be transferred to the Dean and Chapter
of Christ Church
1551 - Divine service was sung for the first
time in Ireland in English rather than Latin
1558 - Queen Mary reversed this decision and
ordered the "goods, chattels, musical instruments,
etc.," be returned to St. Patrick's Cathedral
1560 - The first time the Bible was read in English
1562 - The foundations of the nave slipped, destroying
the south wall and the arched stone roof. The surviving
north wall visibly leans and dates back to 1230
1600 - Crypt space is rented to shopkeepers
1689 - King James II comes to Ireland and worships
at Christ Church
1871 - Major refurbishment of church and Synod
Hall, arched bridge built to connect the two buildings
1983 - Synod hall falls into disuse
1993 - Synod Hall opens to the public with the
new ""
exhibit, Dublin's Viking and Medieval history, city
viewing tower
Covered Arched Footbridge - dates back to the 1870's
when the church was refurbished. Original leaded windows
still features colored glass with images from the bible.
Windows on both sides of the bridge brightens the walkway
with rainbows from the colored glass. The bridge connects
Synod Hall with the church, where the current "Dvblinia"
exhibit is housed. |
Accessible in most instances, limited access to crypt