St. Nicholas of Myra (Without), Francis Street
Encyclopedia
St. Nicholas of Myra is a Roman Catholic church on Francis Street, Dublin
that is still in use today. The site has been used as a place of worship as far back as the 12th century. The current church was built in 1829 and dedicated to Saint Nicholas
in 1835.
monastery were built after the arrival in Ireland of the Franciscan order in 1233. In 1235 John le Porter provided the land and King Henry III
contributed 50 marks towards the construction. The completed church was dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi
, from where the neighbouring street got its name. The stone church was then destroyed during the Dissolution reign of Henry VIII around the 1540s.
During the 17th century the Franciscans acquired the land for their own use, but they had to reconsider their plans due to the fallout of the Popish Plot
by Titus Oates
in 1678.
The current church was built to serve as the Metropolitan Church for Irish Catholic Archbishops by Archbishop Patrick Russell, replacing the church in Limerick Lane. Limerick lane connected Francis Street and Patrick Street.
The first architect of the church was John Leeson. The building commenced in 1829, opened in 1834 and was dedicated in 1835.
In 1860, the architect Patrick Byrne
was commissioned to enhance the church. He added the main exterior features of the church such as the ionic portico
, pediment
, bell-tower and cupola
.
Three statues once stood on the pediment depicting Our Lady, Saint Patrick
and Saint Nicholas
. At the feet of Saint Nicholas there were three golden balls to symbolise charity and an anchor to symbolise hope.
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...
that is still in use today. The site has been used as a place of worship as far back as the 12th century. The current church was built in 1829 and dedicated to Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
in 1835.
History
On the site where the current church stands, a wooden chapel once existed around the 12th century. It was later demolished and a stone church and FranciscanFranciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monastery were built after the arrival in Ireland of the Franciscan order in 1233. In 1235 John le Porter provided the land and King Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
contributed 50 marks towards the construction. The completed church was dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
, from where the neighbouring street got its name. The stone church was then destroyed during the Dissolution reign of Henry VIII around the 1540s.
During the 17th century the Franciscans acquired the land for their own use, but they had to reconsider their plans due to the fallout of the Popish Plot
Popish Plot
The Popish Plot was a fictitious conspiracy concocted by Titus Oates that gripped England, Wales and Scotland in Anti-Catholic hysteria between 1678 and 1681. Oates alleged that there existed an extensive Catholic conspiracy to assassinate Charles II, accusations that led to the execution of at...
by Titus Oates
Titus Oates
Titus Oates was an English perjurer who fabricated the "Popish Plot", a supposed Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles II.-Early life:...
in 1678.
The current church was built to serve as the Metropolitan Church for Irish Catholic Archbishops by Archbishop Patrick Russell, replacing the church in Limerick Lane. Limerick lane connected Francis Street and Patrick Street.
The first architect of the church was John Leeson. The building commenced in 1829, opened in 1834 and was dedicated in 1835.
In 1860, the architect Patrick Byrne
Patrick 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:...
was commissioned to enhance the church. He added the main exterior features of the church such as the ionic portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
, pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
, bell-tower and cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
.
Three statues once stood on the pediment depicting Our Lady, Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
and Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
. At the feet of Saint Nicholas there were three golden balls to symbolise charity and an anchor to symbolise hope.