St. Laurence's Church of Ireland, Chapelizod

[Photographed December 2018, digitally improved May 2024]

This beautiful Church of Ireland church blends medieval charm with later architectural additions. Originally captured in December 2018, my photo was marred by distracting power lines. Fortunately, I've recently found a way to digitally reduce their impact.

The church boasts a hall-and-tower design. Its medieval tower stands alongside 19th and early 20th-century elements, creating a harmonious and picturesque scene within the secluded Chapelizod setting. Frederick Darley designed the simple mid-19th-century nave, a contrast to the distinctive Gothic vestry later added by Welland and Gillespie. Interestingly, the chancel wasn't built until 1908, and is attributed to a Darley design.

Legend has it that the church stands on the site of "Isolde's Chapel," the namesake of Chapelizod. Its churchyard even features in Sheridan Le Fanu's 19th-century ghost story, 'The House by the Churchyard'. The secluded churchyard, enclosed by high walls and gates, adds to the building's unique charm.

A Note on St. Laurence

Churches named St. Laurence in Ireland usually refer to St. Laurence of Rome, an early Christian martyr from the 3rd century AD. It's less likely they honor the Irish St. Laurence O'Toole, the 12th-century Archbishop of Dublin.