To see other architecturally significant historical buildings, click HERE:
When a civilization ends, it does not leave behind a tombstone. Instead, it leaves stackings of stones (i.e. buildings.) We lose the remembrance of individual people, the things they said, did, and wrote, but we remember what they built because those things endure for much longer. The Ancient Greeks and Romans tell us about themselves through their Classical Architecture. We remember the Medieval period in Europe from its castles and Gothic Cathedrals. We remember the early 20th century from the Art Deco buildings it left behind. The style tells us something about their priorities, what they believed, what they knew, and what their hopes were. In a sense, the buildings a culture leaves behind are a kind of epitaph.
Let’s look through the structural epitaphs of our ancestors.
___________________________
John’s Lane Church (Dublin, Ireland)
Location
94–96 Thomas Street Dublin
Country
Ireland
Language
English
Denomination
Catholic Church
Sui iuris church
Latin Church
Religious order
Order of Saint Augustine
The proper name of this church is The Church of St. Augustine and St. John, but it has become known (as sometimes happens) as its street location. By either name, this is a must-see place if you visit Dublin, as it features the tallest steeple in the city and is packed with beautiful art and adorned with fantastic stained glass.
Architecturally, this is considered a ‘French Gothic Revival’ style and it is an absolute beauty.
The Church of St. Augustine and St. John, commonly known as John’s Lane Church, is a large Catholic church located on Thomas Street, Dublin, Ireland. It was opened in 1874 on the site of the medieval St. John’s Hospital, founded c. 1180. It is served by the Augustinian Order of friars.
History
The original hospital on the site was constructed by Aelred the Palmer, a Norman living in Dublin, after returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He founded a monastery of Crossed Friars under the Rule of St. Augustine who would also manage a hospital close by, the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. The monastery was dedicated to St. John the Baptist and stood just outside the city walls, and so was known as St. John’s church without Newgate (Johannis Baptistae extra portem novem dublinensis).
In 1316 Edward Bruce marched towards Dublin at the head of his army, with the intention of besieging the city. The Dublin citizens, to prevent any danger from his approach and by common consent, set fire to Thomas Street. However, the flames laid hold of St. John’s church and burned it to the ground, together with all the nearby suburbs.
About the commencement of the 18th century, an Augustinian Prior rented for their use as a chapel a stable on the western side of St. John’s Tower, a surviving fragment of the hospital. About 1740, on the site of part of the hospital, was erected a small church 60 feet (18.3 m) by 24 feet (7.3 m), which was considerably extended 40 years later.
The remains of the medieval church were demolished and at the time there were the remains of the ‘Magdalen’ tower from the old church which stood where the high altar stands today.
Construction on the modern church was commenced at Easter 1862 under the leadership of Fr. Martin Crane, and it took 33 years to complete. One problem was that the foreman and many of the workmen were Fenians, who got in trouble with the authorities in 1865 and afterwards. For this reason, the church was nicknamed “The Fenian Church”.
The spire, designed by William Hague, and roof were completed in 1874 when the church was opened for Masses. The exterior was completed by 1895 and the interior by 1911.
The sculptor Patrick Courtney worked on the internal altar and stone works of the church. The tradition of sculptor/stonemason has continued on down through the Courtney generations at their premises at 9 Thomas Street, and later by the sons and grandsons at Francis Street, Dublin 8.
Church
The interior
The church is named after St. Augustine and St. John the Baptist, but is popularly known as John’s Lane Church, from its location at the corner of John’s Lane.
The church steeple is the highest steeple in the city, standing at over 200 feet (61.0 m). It was originally not designed to hold bells, but a spiral staircase was added later to provide access to bells. The Bell Ringers Company of John’s Lane was formed in 1872 and the bells were first rung on St. Patrick’s Day 1873.
The twelve statues in the niches on the tower are the work of James Pearse, father of Patrick Pearse and Willie Pearse. The stained glass in the apse is by Mayer of Munich. The windows are by the Harry Clarke studio and Michael Healy.
Bells
There is a peal of ten bells hung in the tower, weighing 22 long hundredweight, 3 quarters and 2 pounds, and in the key of D-flat. The bells were cast by John Murphy of Dublin in 1872 as a ring of eight and installed that year. They were augmented to ten in 1898 with two more bells cast by Charles Carr of Smethwick. The tower was not originally intended to hold bells, and therefore access is via an open iron staircase which was added later, and which looks out into the nave of the church. The bells are rung once a month.
Notable Friars
Professor & Fr. F. X. Martin (O.S.A.), Chairman of the Friends of Medieval Dublin 1976–1983, and Chairman of the Dublin Historic Settlement Group, tried in vain to save the Viking remains in nearby Wood Quay.
This is a really beautiful church. I highly recommend taking a virtual tour (assuming you can’t go in person) to really see all of its beauty and charm.
