Two Anglican Cathedrals?

If you love churches then Dublin is certainly a city for you.  Especially unique in a largely Catholic nation, Dublin has two, beautiful, Anglican cathedrals!

Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest building in continuous use in Dublin.  It was founded in 1030 and rebuilt again starting in 1172, mostly under the impetus of Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke (better known as Strongbow), the Anglo-Norman noble who invaded Ireland in 1170 and whose monument is inside.

 Outside the entrance, the ruins of the chapter house date from 1230

 Here you will find the heart of St. Laurence O’Toole, patron saint of Dublin.  Laurence was buried in France in 1180 and his heart was brought back to Christ Church soon afterwards.  It was stolen in 2012 but recovered in 2018 and restored to its home in the cathedral.

 Christ Church Crypt is the largest crypt in Ireland and the oldest working structure in Dublin.  It was built in the last 12th century with parts of it possibly dating from the 11th century.

Ireland’s largest church is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, built between 1191 and 1270 on the site of an earlier church that had stood here since the 5th century.  It was here that St. Patrick himself reputedly baptised the local Celtic chieftains.  Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, was the dean of the cathedral from 1713 to 1745, and his grave is inside.

A bronze statue of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness was erected outside the Cathedral in 1875 

Home of the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir School, founded in 1432