11.07.2023
Links in a 1000 Year–Old Chain – New Conservation Plan for Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral
“No other building so readily embodies the tangible and intangible history of Dublin” than Christ Church Cathedral, those who gathered for the recent launch of its Conservation Management Plan heard. Christ Church Cathedral has occupied its place on a hill overlooking the River Liffey since 1028. Now, as the cathedral approaches its millennium, the conservation management plan outlines the adoption of a number of policies designed to maintain, protect and enhance the significance of the building.
The plan, which was prepared under the direction of Frank Keohane, Surveyor of the Fabric to Christ Church Cathedral, sets out to enable a better understanding of the cathedral and its significance. It will be formally adopted by the board and will provide guidance for the day to day management of the cathedral, its environs and its collections, plan for change and development and continuing programmes of maintenance and repair. In all, the plan contains 40 policies relating to the care and management of the cathedral, its collections, its monuments and its environs.
“The year 2028 will mark the 1000th anniversary of the foundation of Christ Church Cathedral by King Sitriuc of Dublin; the 900th anniversary of the birth of Archbishop Laurence O’Toole, patron saint of the archdiocese of Dublin and the 150th anniversary of the completion of the cathedral’s complex restoration by George Edmund Street. It is therefore timely and appropriate to take stock and to consider and define the cultural significance of the cathedral in a holistic way,” the conservation plan’s introduction states. “In tandem it is necessary to identify threats to this cultural significance and, following consultation with stakeholders, formulate and adopt policies that will ensure that its cultural significance is not diminished. The preparation of a conservation management plan is seen as the most appropriate means of undertaking such an assessment.”
The 164 page plan brings together a wide range of information about the cathedral in one place and aims to provide a summary of the history and development of the cathedral, assessment of the significance of the site, issues and opportunities facing the cathedral and its environs, and policies. There are also a series of essays provided by contributors to the plan.
The plan was officially launched by Minister of State for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, who described the cathedral as an architectural masterpiece and a testament to those who laid the first foundation stones almost 1,000 years ago. He said that the plan, the preparation of which was supported through his department’s Community Monuments Fund, honoured all those through the centuries who have built and kept the cathedral.
“Christ Church Cathedral has a commanding architectural presence and setting within the historic core and narrative of our capital. Indeed, the ground that we stand on here today is of great archaeological significance, being close to the western boundary of the Viking settlement which is such a central chapter in the story of Dublin,” the Minister observed.
He continued: “It is more than a place of historical great interest though. Its role in the life of the city and its citizens and visitors is perhaps even stronger now. In addition to being a prominent landmark in the city of Dublin, it is also a venerated place of worship, its naves and transepts and beautiful precinct an oasis of calm in the centre of our busy streets and a key tourist attraction, welcoming large number of visitors from all over Ireland and the world, every day of the year. It is very much a central part of the spiritual and cultural life of Dublin including its thriving musical and choral community”.
He commended the plan’s accessible description of the history of the cathedral and stated that it set a threshold of quality, academic rigour and expert input.
Dean Dermot Dunne said that with the plan they intended to build on the cathedral’s legacy and ensure that the iconic building and its role in Dublin city remained for generations to come. “This plan will ensure that the cathedral continues to be a beacon of hope, faith and inspiration to all who call this city home and all who visit it,” he said.
Ruth Kenny, Head of Learning and Interpretation at Christ Church Cathedral, noted that Christ Church had witnessed almost all of Dublin’s great events and epochs. These spanned the city’s Viking settlement, the Anglo–Norman colonisation, visits by at least four kings of England, the coronation of the imposter king Lambert Simnel in the crypt, the reformation and dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII, the turbulent years of Cromwell and his Commonwealth, the restoration of Protestant worship with Charles II, and varied periods of glory, decay and renewed glory during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. She also spoke about the expansion and contraction of the cathedral building over the years. “With a building of this age, we are merely links in a chain; caretakers for future generations, and I am confident that the Conservation Management Plan will enable us to carry out this duty to the very best of our ability,” she commented.
Frank Keohane noted that there had been continuous worship on the site of the cathedral for almost 1,000 years and that it was the oldest building in the city that still fulfils the function for which it was built. One of the finest examples of medieval gothic architecture in Ireland, he said it was the first Irish building to use the three storey interior façade. Apart from its architecture, he outlined the importance of the cathedral in terms of its choral history, bell ringing, archives, plate and more. “The plan summarises and assesses the significance of the cathedral and by doing this we can identify policies for the future of the building,” he stated. He acknowledged all who had contributed to the plan, in particular cathedral archivist Dr Stuart Kinsella, and thanked the Minister for funding via the Community Monuments Fund.
The Cathedral Administrator and Head of Development, Susanne Reid, brought proceedings to a close noting that the cathedral exists to serve the city in which it sits. Much of this was done in partnership with other organisations and professions, she explained. “We welcome people to Christ Church 364 days a year – in keeping with our charitable purpose we observe a daily pattern of worship, we support local charities such Focus Ireland, Mendicity, AidLink and St Agnes Strings, we welcome visitors and performance groups from all over the world and through our Music Department foster future generations of organists and singers,” she said.
Additionally, she said, they are collaborating with Dublin City Council on a masterplan for the area, Failte Ireland on the visitor experience and, as a cathedral community, they are considering how the building could adapt and serve its communities and audiences.
You can access the Conservation Management Plan on the cathedral’s website at: https://christchurchcathedral.ie/conservation-management-plan-for-christ-church-cathedral/
The exhibition, the Treasures of Christ Church Cathedral, is currently taking place in the Crypt.
