14.11.2025
Christ Church Celebrates St Laurence O’Toole
People from Dublin and Normandy gathered in Christ Church Cathedral yesterday evening (Thursday November 13) to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the canonisation of St Laurence O’Toole. The service of Choral Evensong on the Eve of the Feast of St Laurence was attended by both Archbishops of Dublin, Archbishop Michael Jackson and Archbishop Dermot Farrell, who led people of their respective dioceses along with people from the town of Eu in Normandy.
In 1162 Laurence became Archbishop of Dublin and played a pivotal role in a time of great political and ecclesiastical change. He died in Eu in 1180 and was canonised by Pope Honorius III in 1225, becoming Dublin’s first canonised saint. His heart was returned to Dublin where it is kept in Christ Church Cathedral in a reliquary.
Introducing the service, Dean Dermot Dunne recalled the visit by people from the Catholic Diocese of Dublin and the Church of Ireland Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough to Eu to celebrate the anniversary there. He said he was delighted to welcome those who had travelled from Eu, including the Lord Mayor and the Parish Priest, to be in Dublin for the Irish celebration. He also welcomed to the ecumenical service, people from the Archdiocese and their Archbishop.
Dean Dunne congratulated St Mary’s Cathedral on Marlborough Street as they celebrated 200 years of ministry and presence in the city of Dublin. As Christ Church Cathedral moves towards its millennium of worship on the site he offered praise and thanksgiving for all God’s gifts and prayed for unity among all Christians.
During the service the heart of St Laurence was processed to the High altar as uilleann piper Mark Redmond played ‘A Iosa, mhic Mhuire’.
The Community of St Laurence continued the celebration after Evensong by hosting a dinner in the Cathedral Crypt.
