St. Marys Chapel of Ease, Dublin
Encyclopedia
St. Marys Chapel of Ease universally known as 'The Black Church' is one of the most infamous and curious buildings in Dublin. It was a church of the Church of Ireland
located on St. Mary's Place, Broadstone Dublin, Ireland
. Constructed from local calp limestone, the building's nickname ‘The Black Church’ comes that from the darkened hue the limestone takes-on when wet.. A ‘chapel of ease’ is a church building other than the main parish church located within the bounds of a parish for those to attend that cannot conveniently reach the main church.
. The church was built in 1830 to designs by John Semple
of the Board of First Fruits
. He was given many contracts by patron Archbishop McGee, during an intense building period when both denominations vied for control of the population.
Amongst the striking features of the church is how the interior is constructed. There are no interior walls but instead the exterior walls are arched towards the ceiling to create an interior of a large parabolic vault.. It was the culmination of a series of designs which Semple constructed around Dublin and countrywide over a 12 year period. As you view his work in year-on-year progression, the ideas develop and become more refined. For example, what began as a simple cross type motif over the main door, eventually became the fully expanded Semple 'Rose' window. The main door-way itself became one of his 'trademark' features, a tall, ovoidal gothic multi-leaved entrance.
There is much symbolism incorporated into his designs, the interpretation of which he left to our imaginations. There are no records of his thoughts.
Today, surrounded by paved streets, the striking building still sinisterly looms upon onlookers. Although it has a rather more innocuous aspect, perhaps helped by the fact that it is no longer a house of worship. The church was deconsecrated in 1962. After extensive modern refurbishment, is now occupied as offices.
by Irish author James Joyce
, in the chapter entitled 'Oxen of the Sun', as the location of one of Bello's many sins: He went through a form of clandestine marriage with at least one woman in the shadow of the Black Church. Joyce lived for a few months only yards from the Church in Broadstone, at 44 Fontenoy Street, one of the Joyce family's many temporary homes around Dublin. He stayed there with his son Giorgio from July to September 1909 and again alone from October 1909 to June 1910 while trying to set up the first cinema in Dublin.
It was the favorite Church of infamous English Poet Sir John Betjeman and the Dubliner Austin Clarke
. Clarke mentions the local legend of ‘Old Nick’ appearing in his 1962 autobiography titled ‘Twice Round the Black Church’.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
located on St. Mary's Place, Broadstone Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Constructed from local calp limestone, the building's nickname ‘The Black Church’ comes that from the darkened hue the limestone takes-on when wet.. A ‘chapel of ease’ is a church building other than the main parish church located within the bounds of a parish for those to attend that cannot conveniently reach the main church.
History
The ground for the church was donated by the Viscount MountjoyViscount Mountjoy
The title of Viscount Mountjoy has been created three times, twice in the Peerage of Ireland and once in the Peerage of Great Britain. The creations in the Peerage of Ireland were made in 1683 and 1795, and became extinct in 1769 and 1829, respectively...
. The church was built in 1830 to designs by John Semple
John Semple (architect)
John Semple was an Irish Architect who worked for the Board of First Fruits and designed such churches as Monkstown Church, Dublin and St. Marys Chapel of Ease, Dublin. He is noted for being ahead of his time in his style of architecture....
of the Board of First Fruits
Board of First Fruits
The Board of First Fruits was an institution of the Church of Ireland that was established in 1711 by Anne, Queen of Great Britain in order to build and improve churches and glebe houses in Ireland. This was funded from taxes collected on clerical incomes which were in turn funded by tithes...
. He was given many contracts by patron Archbishop McGee, during an intense building period when both denominations vied for control of the population.
Amongst the striking features of the church is how the interior is constructed. There are no interior walls but instead the exterior walls are arched towards the ceiling to create an interior of a large parabolic vault.. It was the culmination of a series of designs which Semple constructed around Dublin and countrywide over a 12 year period. As you view his work in year-on-year progression, the ideas develop and become more refined. For example, what began as a simple cross type motif over the main door, eventually became the fully expanded Semple 'Rose' window. The main door-way itself became one of his 'trademark' features, a tall, ovoidal gothic multi-leaved entrance.
There is much symbolism incorporated into his designs, the interpretation of which he left to our imaginations. There are no records of his thoughts.
Today, surrounded by paved streets, the striking building still sinisterly looms upon onlookers. Although it has a rather more innocuous aspect, perhaps helped by the fact that it is no longer a house of worship. The church was deconsecrated in 1962. After extensive modern refurbishment, is now occupied as offices.
Legend
Local lore says that if you walk counter clockwise around the church three times at midnight, you will summon the devil.Literary references
The Black Church is mentioned briefly in the novel UlyssesUlysses (novel)
Ulysses is a novel by the Irish author James Joyce. It was first serialised in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and then published in its entirety by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, in Paris. One of the most important works of Modernist literature,...
by Irish author James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
, in the chapter entitled 'Oxen of the Sun', as the location of one of Bello's many sins: He went through a form of clandestine marriage with at least one woman in the shadow of the Black Church. Joyce lived for a few months only yards from the Church in Broadstone, at 44 Fontenoy Street, one of the Joyce family's many temporary homes around Dublin. He stayed there with his son Giorgio from July to September 1909 and again alone from October 1909 to June 1910 while trying to set up the first cinema in Dublin.
It was the favorite Church of infamous English Poet Sir John Betjeman and the Dubliner Austin Clarke
Austin Clarke (poet)
thumb|300px|Austin Clarke Bridge in [[Templeogue]]Austin Clarke was one of the leading Irish poets of the generation after W. B. Yeats. He also wrote plays, novels and memoirs...
. Clarke mentions the local legend of ‘Old Nick’ appearing in his 1962 autobiography titled ‘Twice Round the Black Church’.