History St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

1 history

1.1 pre-reformation period
1.2 reformation period
1.3 17th century
1.4 18th century

1.4.1 chivalric chapels


1.5 19th century

history
pre-reformation period

the choir of st patrick s cathedral

in 1192, john comyn, first anglo-norman archbishop of dublin, elevated 1 of 4 dublin celtic parish churches, 1 dedicated saint patrick, beside holy of same name , on island between 2 branches of river poddle, status of collegiate church, i.e., church body of clergy devoted both worship , learning. new collegiate church fell outside city boundaries, , move created 2 new civic territories, 1 under archbishop s temporal jurisdiction. church dedicated god, our blessed lady mary , st patrick on 17 march 1191.

comyn s charter of 1191 or 1192, allowed chapter of thirteen canons, of 3 held special dignities (as chancellor, precentor , treasurer), confirmed papal bull (of pope celestine iii) within year. thirteen prebendaries attached church provided archepiscopal lands.

over time, whole complex of buildings arose in vicinity of cathedral, including palace of st sepulchre (seat of archbishop), , legal jurisdiction divided between liberty controlled dean, around cathedral, , larger 1 belonging archbishop, adjacent.

while not clear when precisely church further raised status of cathedral, unique move in city existing cathedral, after 1192, , comyn s successor archbishop, henry de loundres, elected in 1212 chapters of both christ church , st patrick s, election being recognised pope innocent iii. see below more on question of status. henry granted number of further charters cathedral , chapter between 1218 , 1220, , 1 of these in 1220 created office of dean head cathedral, right of election being allocated solely canons of chapter.

the basis of present building, noted, largest church in ireland, built between 1191 , 1270, though little remains of earliest work beyond baptistry. of work overseen mentioned henry of london, friend of king of england , signatory of magna carta, involved in construction of dublin s city walls, , dublin castle.

an order king henry iii in 1225 allowed collection of donations across island reconstruction period of 4 years, , work, in english gothic style, lasted @ least until rededication in 1254. lady chapel added around 1270.

in 1300, archbishop ferings of dublin arranged agreement between 2 cathedrals, pacis compositio, acknowledged both cathedrals , made provision accommodate shared status. more, see status below.

lady chapel.

in 1311 medieval university of dublin founded here william de rodyard, dean of st patrick s, first chancellor, , canons members. never flourished, , suppressed @ reformation.

from mid-14th century, , on 500 years, north transept of building used parish church of st nicholas without (i.e. part of parish of st nicholas outside city proper).

the tower (minot s tower) , west nave rebuilt between 1362 , 1370, following fire. name commemorates thomas minot, archbishop of dublin 1363–75, oversaw rebuilding.

from earliest years there problems seepage of water, number of floods, in later years of 18th century, caused surrounding branches of river poddle – in 20th century, reported water table within 2.3 metres (7.5 feet) of floor. situation ensured there never crypt or basement area.

reformation period


memorial thomas jones, dean of st patrick s 1581 1585

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after english reformation (an uneven process between 1536 , 1564 @ st patrick s, effective 1537), st patrick s became anglican church of ireland church. dubliners followed same line. in 1530s images within cathedral defaced soldiers under thomas cromwell, , neglect led collapse of nave in 1544. conventionally-flexible style of archbishop of dublin hugh curwen instructive; follower firstly of henry s non-lutheran church in 1530s, of edward vi s full-blown protestantism c.1550, accepting appointment archbishop during queen mary s reversion of church roman catholicism in 1555, , continued serve archbishop, using anglican rite 1559, under queen elizabeth until 1567.

under king edward vi, st patrick s cathedral formally suppressed, , building demoted status of parish church. on 25 april 1547, pension of 200 marks sterling assigned sir edward basnet , dean, followed, months later, pensions of £60 each chancellor alien , precentor humphrey, , £40 archdeacon power. silver, jewels, , ornaments transferred dean , chapter of christ church. king designated part of building use court house, cathedral grammar school established in vicar s hall , deanery given archbishop, following transfer of archbishop s palace lord deputy of ireland. in 1549, further ordered walls repainted , inscribed passages scriptures.

in 1555 charter of joint monarchs philip , mary restored cathedral s privileges , initiated restoration , late document of queen mary s reign, deed dated 27 april 1558, comprises release or receipt thomas leverous, new dean, , chapter of st patrick s, of goods, chattels, musical instruments, etc. , belonging cathedral, , had been in possession of dean , chapter of christ church. during reign patronal festival of blessed virgin mary last celebrated (in 1558).

following ejection of catholic chapter of canons in 1559, catholic community continued in 1560s–1570s @ least go on nominating canons , principal dignitaries st patrick s.

in 1560, 1 of dublin s first public clocks erected in st patrick s steeple .

17th century


lady chapel in saint patrick s cathedral today.

by 17th century, lady chapel said have been in ruins, , arch @ east end of choir closed off lath , plaster partition wall. there routine flooding , series of galleries added accommodate large congregations. in 1620 english-born judge luke gernon referred cathedral s poor state of repair.

during stay of oliver cromwell in dublin, during conquest of ireland commonwealth s lord protector stabled horses in nave of cathedral. intended demonstrate cromwell s disrespect anglican religion, associated roman catholicism , political royalism.

after restoration of monarchy in 1660, repairs building begun.

in 1666, cathedral chapter offered lady chapel use of french-speaking huguenots had fled ireland, , after repair , preparation works, became known l eglise française de st patrick. lease signed on 23 december 1665 , renewed time time until special services ceased in 1816, time huguenots had been assimilated city population.

in 1668 roof, in danger of collapsing, taken down, new roof being completed 1671. buttresses erected , west window replaced perpendicular window. then, in 1680s, choir reformed. in 1688–90, during williamite war in ireland, james ii , fellow catholics briefly repossessed st patrick s. james attended mass services there jacobite supporters time. however, victory of protestant williamites in war meant cathedral restored anglican ownership in 1690 when james abandoned dublin after defeat @ battle of boyne.

18th century

bust of jonathan swift



mid 18th century floor plan

throughout long history cathedral has contributed irish life, , 1 key aspect of relates writer , satirist jonathan swift, author of gulliver s travels, dean of cathedral 1713 1745. many of famous sermons , irish tracts (such drapier s letters) given during stay dean.

his grave , epitaph can seen in cathedral, along of friend stella. swift took great interest in building, services , music , in called social welfare, funding almshouse poor women , saint patrick s hospital.

the choir school, had been founded in 1432, supplied many of members take part in first performance of handel s messiah in 1742.

in 1749, cathedral spire added george semple; remains 1 of dublin s landmarks.

in 1792, divine service temporarily suspended due poor condition of south wall, 60 centimetres (2 feet) out of perpendicular, , of parts of roof.

chivalric chapels

knights of st patrick. 1783 until 1871 cathedral served chapel of illustrious order of saint patrick, members of knights of st patrick. dis-establishment of church of ireland in 1871 installation ceremony moved st patrick s hall, dublin castle. heraldic banners of knights @ time of change still hang on choir stalls day.
paris-malta obedience of order of saint lazarus (statuted 1910). cathedral contains so-called dunsany chapel spiritual home of order in ireland. decoration of chapel provided randall plunkett, 19th lord dunsany, established order in ireland in 1962. cathedral used investiture ceremonies , dean of cathedral ecclesiastical commander of order.

19th century

celtic cross discovered near church in 19th century.



bronze statue of sir benjamin lee guinness john henry foley, erected in 1875.

by 1805, north transept in ruins , south transept in poor condition; urgent work carried out nave roof, held scaffolding.

in 1846, post of dean of saint patrick s united of dean of christ church, situation lasted in law until 1872.

an attempt @ major restoration began under direction of dean pakenham (dean, 1843–1864), limited poor economic circumstances. lady chapel restored, floor (then raised several metres) reduced original level , other urgent matters @ least partly addressed.

in mid-19th century, celtic cross found buried near cathedral. has been preserved , thought may have marked site of former holy well.

the major reconstruction, paid benjamin guinness, in 1860–65, , inspired fear cathedral in imminent danger of collapse, means of current building , decoration dates victorian era; medieval chantries removed among other actions, , few records of work survive today.

though rebuilding ensured survival of cathedral, failure preserve records of scale of rebuild means little known how of current building genuinely mediæval , how victorian pastiche. sir benjamin s statue jh foley outside south door. son arthur (also brewer) came in humorous gentle criticism when donated stained glass window of rebecca @ ; motto read: thirsty , ye gave me drink . in 1901 son edward created adjacent st patrick s park area of decrepit housing, , donated new set of bells cathedral.

the other great change cathedral occurred in 1871 when, following disestablishment of church of ireland, newly independent church @ general synod resolved 2 cathedral issue, making christ church sole , undisputed cathedral of dublin diocese , st patrick s national cathedral.