Church Of Ireland

CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART NEXT TO ARBOUR HILL PRISON

October 27, 2024 by infomatique

PHOTOGRAPHED 10 OCTOBER 2024

The Church at Arbour Hill, Dublin, is a building with a layered history. Constructed in 1848 as a Church of Ireland chapel for the adjacent Arbour Hill Prison, it was designed in a cruciform style with transepts and a distinctive round tower. The church is linked to the main entrance of the prison by screen walls, creating a rather imposing façade.

Originally built to serve the predominantly Protestant prison staff, the chapel likely had a different name, which is yet to be definitively confirmed. Further research into archival records, architectural plans, and local historical societies may reveal its original title.

In 1997, the church was re-consecrated as a Roman Catholic church and renamed the Church of the Sacred Heart. It also became the Church of the Defence Forces following the closure of the nearby Collins Barracks.

The church is perhaps most well-known for its connection to the 1916 Easter Rising. The leaders of the Rising, including Patrick Pearse and James Connolly, are buried in the grounds of the church, making it a site of national and historical significance. A ceremony commemorating the Rising is held at the church every year.

Architecturally, the Church of the Sacred Heart has some interesting features. The interior is elaborately decorated and boasts a stained-glass window by the renowned Harry Clarke Studios. The entrance porch is unusual, with stairs leading to twin galleries for visitors at the nave and transept.

NORTH STRAND PARISH CHURCH

September 29, 2024 by infomatique

AND ST COLUMBA’S NATIONAL SCHOOL BESIDE IT

The North Strand Parish Church and the school building beside it, St. Columba’s National School, share a rich history intertwined with the local community of North Strand, Dublin.

North Strand Parish Church:

Established in 1786, making it a longstanding presence in the area.
Originally located at the corner of North Strand and Spring Garden Street.
Current building dates back to 1838, showcasing architectural styles typical of 19th-century Church of Ireland places of worship.
The church holds historical significance, including memorials to parishioners lost in the Great War and the Roll of Honour from the St. Barnabas parish.
It is now part of the United Parish of Drumcondra, North Strand, and Saint Barnabas.

St. Columba’s National School:

Founded in 1787, shortly after the church’s establishment.
Situated within the church grounds, highlighting its close affiliation with the church.
Provides primary education to children from the local community, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds.
Operates under the patronage of the Church of Ireland.
Offers a comprehensive curriculum, including participation in extracurricular activities like the Primary Science Fair, musical theatre, and community garden projects.

ST PHILIP’S CHURCH ON TEMPLE ROAD

August 23, 2024 by infomatique

DESIGNED BY SIR THOMAS DREW

St. Philip’s Church, Milltown

History:

The site for the church was donated by Lord Palmerston in 1864.
The foundation stone was laid the same year, and the church was consecrated in 1867.
The architect was Sir Thomas Drew, renowned for designing other notable buildings like St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast and Rathmines Town Hall.
The church was built to cater to the spiritual needs of the expanding population in the then-new suburb of Milltown.
The church underwent enlargement in 1878/79.
Architectural Style:

The church exhibits the Early English Gothic architectural style, recognised by its pointed arches and lancet windows.
It comprises a nave and an apse-shaped chancel.
The roof of the chancel is polygonal, adorned with moulded ribs.
Current Status:

St. Philip’s remains an active parish church, serving the Milltown and Dartry communities.
It is well-maintained and continues to be a centre for worship and community events.
There is no recent information available regarding any major restorations.

Sir Thomas Drew (1838-1910) was a prominent Anglo-Irish architect who left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape of Ireland.
He was known for his expertise in church architecture, particularly in the Gothic Revival style, but he also designed a wide range of other buildings, including commercial structures, public buildings, and houses.

Drew was born in Belfast and trained under the renowned architect Sir Charles Lanyon. He later moved to Dublin, where he established his own practice and became a leading figure in the architectural profession. He served as the President of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland from 1889 to 1901 and was knighted in 1885 for his contributions to architecture.

Some of Drew’s most notable works include:

St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast: This grand cathedral, completed in 1904, is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Ireland.
Ulster Bank, Dublin: This imposing building on Dame Street, completed in 1891, is a testament to Drew’s skill in designing commercial structures.
Rathmines Town Hall, Dublin: This elegant building, completed in 1899, is a landmark in the Rathmines area and serves as a venue for various cultural events.
Graduates’ Memorial Building, Trinity College Dublin: This striking building, completed in 1906, houses the university’s library and reading rooms.
St. Philip’s Church, Milltown: This charming church, designed by Drew in 1864, is a testament to his ability to create beautiful and functional places of worship.
Drew’s architectural legacy is evident throughout Ireland, and his buildings continue to be admired for their beauty, craftsmanship, and functionality. He played a crucial role in shaping the architectural landscape of Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his work continues to inspire architects and enthusiasts today.

SOME OLD IMAGES OF ST PETERS CHURCHYARD IN DROGHEDA

October 19, 2023 by infomatique

PHOTOGRAPHED 20212 BY WILLIAM MURPHY

MY OCTOBER 2023 VISIT TO DROGHEDA

It rained during my visit and upon becoming wet some of the flat table like gravestones became black.

This week I realised that I had not visited Drogheda since 2012 so I decided that it might be a good to get the train to the town and devote a few hours to photographing some of the local churches however I got distracted and did have the time to visit St Pete’s Church Of Ireland churchyard. However, I am planning to visit again later this month or sometime in November [2023]

Within the churchyard of St. Peter’s can be found many interesting and varied funerary monuments. Of these, perhaps the most interesting and visited is a “cadaver stone” taken from the tomb of Sir Edmond Goldyng and his wife Elizabeth Fleming. It is built into the churchyard wall, east of the present building and shows two cadavers enclosed in shrouds which have been partially opened to show the remains of the occupants of the tomb.

Helen M. Roe in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquities, 1969 estimates that a date for the tomb would seem to fall within the first quarter of the 16th century. This type of tombstone is part of a fashion widespread in Europe, although relatively rare in Ireland, which explored bodily decomposition and human mortality. This reflected a preoccupation with death arising from the great plague of 1347 to 1350, and subsequent epidemics.

SAINT BRIGID’S CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCH

October 9, 2023 by infomatique

CASTLEKNOCK VILLAGE

Detached Church of Ireland church, built 1806, with three-stage tower to west gable. Flanking side aisles added c.1860, comprising three-bay side elevations with gabled terminating bays to east forming transepts. Stained glass window dedicated to Saint Hubert by Harry Clarke.

In May 1177, Henry II and Hugh de Lacy granted 12,001 acres of land in Castleknock to Hugh Tyrell, first Baron of Castleknock. A copy of the charter of the grant in Latin was discovered in 1933 by Eric St. John Brooks in the London Public Records Office. In 1185, Richard Tyrell, son of Hugh Tyrell, gave a grant to the Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Little Malvern in Worcestershire to endow a religious house in Castleknock in honour of St. Brigid.

They founded a monastery beside St. Brigid’s Well called the Abbey of St. Brigid in Castleknock and it was a dependent priory of Little Malvern. The lands and priory were transferred to the ownership of St. Mary’s Abbey in 1486 and on the dissolution of the monasteries after Henry VIII broke with Rome, it became the property of the Luttrell family. The first church was built here in 1609 on the site of the monastery of St. Brigid. In 1803, the foundation stone was laid by Hans Hamilton for the re-building of St. Brigid’s, the present day Castleknock parish church.