Church of St. John the Evangelist, Dublin
Encyclopedia
The Church of St. John the Evangelist was a former Church of Ireland
church located on the west side of Fishamble Street
in the centre of Dublin, Ireland
. It was founded in the 12th century, and a great many of its parish records survive.
the church was built in 1168 by a native Irishman called Giolla Michell. It was then attached to the Church of the Most Holy Trinity (Christ Church
), which was run by the Augustinian Order. Fishamble St. in those times reached only as far as the Music Hall, the rest, where the church was located, was called Bothestret. In the church there was a chapel to St. Mary and one to St. John, which was used by the Guild of Tailors.
In the 14th century at Easter a Miracle Play, on the subject of the Resurrection, was performed in the church.
An Arland Ussher (died 1557), nephew of the Mayor of Dublin, rebuilt the church. The new church consisted of a chancel
, nave
and two aisles. There were vaults underneath the church and a belfry
contained three bells.
The church was re-built in 1681. Its walls were only 24 feet (7.5 meters) high. There were 42 pews, which were shared among several families. The names Bladen, Hutchinson, Forster, Crumpe, Crossart, Thompson, Grimes, Reeves, Stacey and Shipley, among others, are recorded.
In the mid 18th-century a committee was formed to raise funds for yet another renovation of the church. They were successful in raising thousands of pounds from the government and smaller sums from other sources, so that the church was rebuilt and re-opened in 1773. The pews were auctioned to the highest bidders, providing those with the most money with the best seats. Alderman Robert Smith contributed funds to buy an organ, from William Gibson of Grafton St., but unfortunately it never worked properly.
The church was closed in 1878, after the parish was united with that of St. Werburgh
. The pulpit and other pieces were taken to that church.
theatre. In 1746, Henry Grattan
was born nearby and baptised at this church. The writer John Duncan Craig
was curate here in the mid-1850s.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
church located on the west side of Fishamble Street
Fishamble Street
Fishamble Street is a street in Dublin, Ireland within the old city walls.The street joins Wood Quay at the Fish Slip near Fyan's Castle. It is mentioned in the 14th century as Vicus Piscariorum and as Fish Street. In 1577, Stanihurst named it as St John's Street...
in the centre of Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It was founded in the 12th century, and a great many of its parish records survive.
The Church
According to Sir John GilbertJohn Thomas Gilbert
Sir John Thomas Gilbert was an Irish archivist, antiquarian and historian.-Life:John Thomas Gilbert was the second son of John Gilbert, an English Protestant, who was Portuguese consul in Dublin, and Marianne Gilbert, an Irish Catholic, daughter of Henry Costello. He was born in Jervis Street,...
the church was built in 1168 by a native Irishman called Giolla Michell. It was then attached to the Church of the Most Holy Trinity (Christ Church
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
), which was run by the Augustinian Order. Fishamble St. in those times reached only as far as the Music Hall, the rest, where the church was located, was called Bothestret. In the church there was a chapel to St. Mary and one to St. John, which was used by the Guild of Tailors.
In the 14th century at Easter a Miracle Play, on the subject of the Resurrection, was performed in the church.
An Arland Ussher (died 1557), nephew of the Mayor of Dublin, rebuilt the church. The new church consisted of a chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and two aisles. There were vaults underneath the church and a belfry
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
contained three bells.
The church was re-built in 1681. Its walls were only 24 feet (7.5 meters) high. There were 42 pews, which were shared among several families. The names Bladen, Hutchinson, Forster, Crumpe, Crossart, Thompson, Grimes, Reeves, Stacey and Shipley, among others, are recorded.
In the mid 18th-century a committee was formed to raise funds for yet another renovation of the church. They were successful in raising thousands of pounds from the government and smaller sums from other sources, so that the church was rebuilt and re-opened in 1773. The pews were auctioned to the highest bidders, providing those with the most money with the best seats. Alderman Robert Smith contributed funds to buy an organ, from William Gibson of Grafton St., but unfortunately it never worked properly.
The church was closed in 1878, after the parish was united with that of St. Werburgh
St Werburgh's Church, Dublin
St. Werburgh's Church is a Church of Ireland church in Dublin, Ireland, and was built in 1178, shortly after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the town, and named after St. Werburgh, abbess of Ely and patron saint of Chester who died in 699 CE. It is located in Werburgh Street, close to Dublin...
. The pulpit and other pieces were taken to that church.
The churchyard
There was a graveyard attached to the church; the first tombstone mentioned is that of William Scriven, in 1681. Many titled people, aldermen, sheriffs, members of parliament, lawyers, clergy, lord mayors, and scholars were buried there. The last mentioned is that of Elizabeth Frances McAusland in 1850. It is estimated that there were more than 12,500 burials in total.The parish
The parish, which covered the area around the now closed Catholic church of St. Michael and John, was a union of two: St. John's and St. Olaf's. The latter, founded in the first half of the 11th century, commemorated Olaf I, King of Norway, and its church was located in what is present-day Essex St. The parishes were formally united in 1558. The parish corresponded with the civil parish of St. John.Notable parishioners
In 1748, Thomas Sheridan paid for a pew for the use of his players in the Smock AlleyTheatre Royal, Dublin
At one stage in the history of the theatre in Britain and Ireland, the designation Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre was an indication that the theatre was granted a Royal Patent without which theatrical performances were illegal...
theatre. In 1746, Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.-Early life:Grattan was born at...
was born nearby and baptised at this church. The writer John Duncan Craig
John Duncan Craig
John Duncan Craig was an Irish poet, writer and Church of Ireland clergyman who was also an authority on the language and literature of Provence....
was curate here in the mid-1850s.