Pre-Reformation period St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

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.