Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church cathedral, Dublin is the mother church of the dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and of the southern province of the Church of Ireland. It has been a living and vibrant centre of public worship of almighty God for nearly 1000 years and has been a permanent fixture in the Dublin skyline since the days of the Vikings.

The earliest manuscript dates Christ Church cathedral to its present location around 1030. Dúnán, the first bishop of Dublin and Sitriuc, Hiberno-Norse king of Dublin, established the original foundation. By 1152 it was incorporated into the Irish church and within a decade the famous Archbishop Laurence O’Toole had been appointed, later to become the patron saint of Dublin. The tomb of a contemporary of Laurence O’Toole, Strongbow also lies in the cathedral. His arrival in 1170, bringing with him the authority of Henry II, King of England, signified a major turning point in Irish history, the repercussions of which remain to this day.

Today Christ Church is run by a dean, a cathedral chapter consisting of honorary canons (senior clergy in the united dioceses) and a Board of clergy and laity. The cathedral is known for its proud tradition of music, maintained today the cathedral choirs and organists. In 1742, their predecessors joined with the choir of the nearby St Patrick’s cathedral in the first performance of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah in nearby Fishamble Street.

Also situated in the dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough is St Patrick’s cathedral (http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie ), established as a collegiate church, and now a national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. St Patrick’s and Christ Church have shared many joint endeavours and a good humoured rivalry down through the years!

// Christ Church Cathedral Contacts