SAINT JOHNS DISUSED ANGLICAN CHURCH IN LIMERICK

SAINT JOHNS DISUSED ANGLICAN CHURCH IN LIMERICK [NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE NEARBY CATHEDRAL]

Located on the site of an eleventh-century church, Saint John's was oriented to address the open north side of John's Square.

This important historic site is adjacent to the former John's Gate and the town walls where the existing Citadel is located and incorporated within Saint John's Hospital.


The current church fell into disuse more than 40 years ago because the Anglican population of Limerick was not large enough to support the church and it was taken over by Limerick Corporation in 1975.

The Daghdha Dance Company, which was formed by Teresa Leahy and Mary Nunan at the University of Limerick in 1988, was based in the building until March 2011. It is now used as a performance space by Dance Limerick who have offices the Square.

This visit I got the impression that there is, or has been, a problem with vandalism as I noticed that extra security has been added so some of the vaults.

The Catholic Cathedral of Saint John's dominates the area to the east. Saint John's was built by the architect Joseph Welland (1798-1860), in the Norman Romanesque style in 1851. It was intended to accommodate 1,000 persons.

The foundation stone was laid on the 15th January 1851 and the church was dedicated in June 1852. The builder was Barker. Welland, who was born in Cork, was architect to the Board of the First Fruits for seven years before it was disbanded in 1838. After this he was appointed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners as one of the architects of the four provinces. He was finally nominated sole architect to the Established Church. His oeuvre includes over 100 churches including Saint John's Church in Monkstown, Co. Dublin, and institutional architecture including Monaghan Gaol and Courthouse.

The Unthank family mausoleum is located on the site and the limestone plaque to south side elevation reads: 'I.H.S.The remains of Robert Unthank, Esq. are deposed in this monument. Who died May 1814, aged 26 years. Also the remains of his mother Mrs. Mary Unthank. Who died Sep. 22, 1847 aged 75 years. And his sister, Mrs. Percy Scanlan who died February 4th 1829, aged 37 years.' Limestone plaque to north side reads: 'IHS. To the memory of John Unthank, Esq. of Thomas-Street on this city who departed this life on the 19th February, 1849, aged 57 years. This monument is erected as a small testimony of the respect and affection of his sorrowing wife and childred.'