Christ Church, Dublin Ireland!

Historic churches are a favorite “must-do” on the list when it comes to sight seeing for me.  I love everything about them – the history, the sense of family, the connection to the past, even the conflict of the ages --

Standing on high ground in the oldest part of Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral is one of the city's finest historic buildings.

Part of the Anglican Church of Ireland, the cathedral is the mother church for the diocese of Dublin and Glendalough. It is one of two Protestant cathedrals in Dublin; the other being St. Patrick's Cathedral, just to the south.

We only had enough time to hit ONE church ---and upon high recommendation, off we went in search of spires, of stained glass, of statues and angels, and of course…tile floors!

And OH! The tile floors!

Where do you start?!

How about with a bit more history?

The first Christianized Danish king, Sitric (Sigtryggr Silkbeard), built a wooden church at this site in 1038. On the brow of a hill inside the city walls, it was the most commanding position in Dublin.

The present stone cathedral was begun in 1172 after the conquest of Dublin by Strongbow (a.k.a. Richard de Clare), a Norman baron. Construction continued well into the 13th century, so a transition from Norman to Early English Gothic styles can be seen in the architecture.

The cathedral's vault collapsed in 1562, bringing down the south side of the nave with it. It was rebuilt in the 17th century.

Funded by the distiller Henry Roe, the cathedral was heavily restored by architect G. E. Street in 1871-78. As with many Victorian renovations, the work was important for preserving the ancient building but also robbed the cathedral of much of its medieval character. The exterior was entirely refaced and the interior was fully renovated in a Victorian Neo-Gothic style. Street also rebuilt the tower and added external buttresses.  Sacred Destinations.com

But I know you are really after what it was like on the INSIDE!
 
If the slide show doesn’t play for you, click the image below to be taken to the photo album.

Christ Church, Dublin Ireland 2013

As this posts, I am on a plane from Dublin back to New York City!  I'll be staying the night near JFK airport and flying the rest of the way home on Sunday morning -- so the next time you hear from me I will be back in my own time zone -- and all of this will seem like a far away dream.


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