CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
Dublin City, County Dublin


Christ Church Cathedral, front

Originally a wooden structure built in 1038 by the Vikings, Christ Church Cathedral owes its present form to the Norman invasion. The timber structure was destroyed when Richard (Strongbow) de Clare who conquered Ireland in 1171, put up personal funds, along with Archbishop Laurence O'Toole, to have the current church built in 1172.

During the time of the Reformation the church pased to the Protestant Church of Ireland where it has remained.

By the 1870s the church had fallen into a sad state of repair, but with the architectrual guidance of George Street the church underwent a complete refurbishment.

Christ Church is truely one of the most impressive churches in all of Ireland and can boast many incredible highlights. Among them are:
The Great Nave - 68 feet high and features some of Ireland's most lovely Gothic arches
The Medieval Lectern - made of beautiful brass and was hand wrought during the Middle Ages
The Lady Chapel - used for Eucharist celebrations
The Lord Mayor's Pew
Romanesque doorways - the most noteable is the one out in the front garden that leads into the south transept and has excellent details for 12th century Irish stonework

Medieval mosiac tiles

Arched footbridge
Original Medieval hand made mosiac tiles - laid throughout the church . This particular collection(above) is about 8 feet in diameter and line the path down the center of the pews to the altar. Other intricate designs can be found around the church, each nave having it's own design.
Covered Arched Footbridge (above) - dates back to the 1870's when the chruch was refurbished. Original leaded windows still features colored glass with images from the bible. Windows on both sides of the bridge brightens the walkway with rainbows from the colored glass. The bridge connects Synod Hall with the church, where the current "Dvblinia" exhibit is housed.
The tomb of Strongbow (photo right) - just inside the main doors. This is not the actual tomb of Strongbow, though he is buried somewhere within the church walls. There is a smaller effigy beside the Strongbow tomb of unknown origin. It's possible that this is either the original medieval Strongbow effigy, that of his lady wife, or his son.
Chapel of St Laud - within the chapel is the "Heart of St Laurance O'Toole", which is a wooden heart shaped container sealed within a small iron barred box. Inside is the heart of the one time archbishop.

Strongbows Tomb

Crypt

The crypt (photo left) - is the largest in Ireland, currently houses monuments that were removed from the church during its restoration as well as several oddities including the purrfect mummifications of a cat and mouse that were found inside an organ pipe in the 1860's.

The crypt is open to the public and has recently been refurbished to include an audio/visual program, displays of gold and silver, and costumes.

The following is a brief timeline for Christ Church Cathedral:

1038 - The Vikings built a wooden cathedral
1172 - Archbishop Laurance O'Toole and Strongbow commission a stone chruch to replace the timber one
1240 - The stone church is finally completed
1487 - 10 year old Lambert Simnel is crowned "King of England"
1541 - King Henry VIII makes changes to the constitution of the cathedral
1600 - Crypt space is rented to shopkeepers
1689 - King James II comes to Ireland and worships at Christ Church
1871 - Major refurbishment of church and Synod Hall, arched bridge built to connect the two buildings
1983 - Synod hall falls into disuse
1993 - Synod Hall opens to the public with the new "Dvblinia" exhibit