St. John the Baptist, Blackrock
Encyclopedia
St. John the Baptist, Blackrock is a Roman Catholic church in the parish of Blackrock, Ireland
. The church is still in use and named after the Saint John the Baptist
. It is located on Temple Road, Blackrock, County Dublin
.
, whose summer residence was nearby Maretimo House. The building of the church commenced with the laying of a single foundation stone on the feast of St. John the Baptist, 24 June 1842. Building completed in 1845 and the church was dedicated on 14 September 1845 by the Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Murray
, Archbishop of Dublin
.
The church was built as a replacement of the chapel of the Carmelite monastery on Sweetman's Avenue. The old chapel was demolished and another chapel built in its place which can now be seen as part of the Blackrock Hospice
.
The area the church occupies, first came under the parish of Monkstown. Later, after the reformation, the area came under the parish of Booterstown. It was 1922 when the parish of Blackrock came into being.
, who was educated at the Dublin Society Schools. It is one of the finest examples of the Gothic revial style in Ireland and was the first to be built in the Dublin Archdiocese. It is said to be inspired by the ideas of Augustus Welby Pugin (1812-1852).
The initial building consisted of the nave, chancel and bell tower. To the rear of the church, two carved heads can be seen up high on either side of the rose window. The head on the left depicts St. John the Baptist, while the head on the right depicts the Archbishop Daniel Murray.
In 1850, additions were made to the east side, to the right of the entrance. These included an aisle, baptistry, vestry and a chapel in honour of Our Lady.
In 1931-1932, the old school to the west side of the church was demolished and an additional aisle, St. Anne's aisle, was constructed. This included the St. Anne's chapel and the Blessed Sacrament chapel.
was commissioned to create two stained glass windows. These windows can be seen as the third stained glass windows on both the west and east aisles.
1932 saw new stained glass windows installed in the St. Anne's aisle, by the Early Studios.
In 1955, the Evie Hone
stained glass windows were presented by the McGuire family in memory of Brigid Patricia McGuire, wife of Senator Edward McGuire and mother of the portrait painter Edward McGuire (1932-1986)
. This window would have been one of the last produced by Evie Hone.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The church is still in use and named after the Saint John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
. It is located on Temple Road, Blackrock, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
.
History
The church is built on land given for the purpose by Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron CloncurryValentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
Valentine Brown Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry , was an Irish politician and landowner. He lived in Lyons, under Lyons Hill Ardclough County Kildare.-Birth:...
, whose summer residence was nearby Maretimo House. The building of the church commenced with the laying of a single foundation stone on the feast of St. John the Baptist, 24 June 1842. Building completed in 1845 and the church was dedicated on 14 September 1845 by the Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Murray
Daniel Murray (archbishop)
Daniel Murray was a Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin.He was educated at Dr. Betagh's school, and at Salamanca, and ordained priest in 1790. After some years as curate in Dublin he was transferred to Arklow, and was there in 1798 when the rebellion broke out...
, Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin
The Archbishop of Dublin may refer to:* Archbishop of Dublin – an article which lists of pre- and post-Reformation archbishops.* Archbishop of Dublin – the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin....
.
The church was built as a replacement of the chapel of the Carmelite monastery on Sweetman's Avenue. The old chapel was demolished and another chapel built in its place which can now be seen as part of the Blackrock Hospice
Our Lady's Hospice
Our Lady's Hospice is a Hospice with its main centre in Harold's Cross, Dublin and a specialist palliative care unit in Blackrock, County Dublin in Ireland. The Hospice was founded and run by the Religious Sisters of Charity, a congregation themselves founded by Mary Aikenhead. They provide...
.
The area the church occupies, first came under the parish of Monkstown. Later, after the reformation, the area came under the parish of Booterstown. It was 1922 when the parish of Blackrock came into being.
Architecture
The church was designed by the architect Patrick ByrnePatrick Byrne (architect)
Patrick Byrne was an Irish Architect who built many Catholic churches in Dublin. He also served as a vice president of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.-History:...
, who was educated at the Dublin Society Schools. It is one of the finest examples of the Gothic revial style in Ireland and was the first to be built in the Dublin Archdiocese. It is said to be inspired by the ideas of Augustus Welby Pugin (1812-1852).
The initial building consisted of the nave, chancel and bell tower. To the rear of the church, two carved heads can be seen up high on either side of the rose window. The head on the left depicts St. John the Baptist, while the head on the right depicts the Archbishop Daniel Murray.
In 1850, additions were made to the east side, to the right of the entrance. These included an aisle, baptistry, vestry and a chapel in honour of Our Lady.
In 1931-1932, the old school to the west side of the church was demolished and an additional aisle, St. Anne's aisle, was constructed. This included the St. Anne's chapel and the Blessed Sacrament chapel.
Altar
To the rear of the altar there are nine statues representing the "Bearers of the Word". At the centre is Our Lady (Blessed Virgin Mary) followed to her right is St. Peter, St. Mark, St. James and St. Matthew. To her left is St. Paul, St. Luke, St. John and St. Jude.Stained Glass Windows
In 1925, through a donation by the family of John Murphy of Avoca Avenue, Harry Clarke StudioHarry Clarke
Harry Clarke was an Irish stained glass artist and book illustrator. Born in Dublin, he was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement.- History :...
was commissioned to create two stained glass windows. These windows can be seen as the third stained glass windows on both the west and east aisles.
1932 saw new stained glass windows installed in the St. Anne's aisle, by the Early Studios.
In 1955, the Evie Hone
Evie Hone
Evie Hone was a Dublin born Irish painter and stained glass artist.She was related to Nathaniel Hone and Nathaniel Hone the Younger. Her most important works are probably the East Window for the Chapel at Eton College, Windsor and My Four Green Fields, now located in Government Buildings...
stained glass windows were presented by the McGuire family in memory of Brigid Patricia McGuire, wife of Senator Edward McGuire and mother of the portrait painter Edward McGuire (1932-1986)
Edward McGuire (painter)
Edward McGuire was an Irish painter.- Biography :The Irish portraitist, still-life artist and bird painter Edward McGuire was born in Dublin. He studied painting, drawing and the history of art at the Accademia di Belle Arti, Rome, and at the Slade School of Fine Art, London...
. This window would have been one of the last produced by Evie Hone.