Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-15
DUBLIN'S ANCIENT CHURCHES
How They We're Restored Through the Lib
crafty OF Wealthy Brewers.

One day, in April, 1878, l stood at the
corner Of Werburgh and Castle streets,
| Dublin, and watched with interest the
demolition Of the uilapldated east wing
OF the old Church OF the Holy Trinity,
wherein lies the dust OF Strongbow, and
the remains Of many distinguished eclesi-
aStics, and from whose pulpit the Estab-
iished Religion and Liturgy were first
announced On Easter Sunday, 1850. The
common name OF the editice is 'Christ
! Church. 1he church was founded by
Sitric, King OF the Danes, with the aid OF
| Donat, Bishop Of Dublin. There arc
/ Two cathedra!s III Dublin-the Holy
| Trinity anu s.. Patrick s belonging 10
/ the Established Religion. The latter is
i upon the site OF the church said to have
been built 10y st. Patrick, and is the larg-
est and most imposing OF all the eciesl-
/ .,stical edl1ceS IN tilc irish capital. 1t
was elevated from Il parochiat toa cathe-
oral church in 1870. There is no Catho-
lie cathedral in Dublin, nor q parish
| church called after st. Patrick, notwith
staudlo, t..-.t .ho.t are ten Cathoilc par
lsh churches an0 nine regular. st. Mary s
| in Marlboro street, Is called the Metro
| politan Church, or account OF its being
the one III which tie Archbishop otiicl-
a,es.
Twenty-Five years ago the successor Of
| old Arthur Guinness, who, in the early
part OF this century commenced 10 man
| utacture ms famous NN porter, which
! has gone round tie world like the sons
of the land i'll which it Is brewea, con-
ceiyed the idea, after visiting the ancient
edifce, TO thoroughly Ienovate 1t. This
was Sir Benjamin Le& Guinness, Bart.
who died il 1868 The cost of the un-
dc rtaklng was 100000 Isl ,4S3,O09). So
magniicently cid the great brewer do
his work, that one who visited the enVi-
rons thirty years ago ana to day would
| be surprised at the change.
Let us take {. glimpse ii the interior OF
tie venerable fame, now that 1t has been
relitted and lebuilt, almost. The eX-
trcnc length OF the body o, the building,
including the nave, CHOIR and Lady
Chapel, is 800 feet; that OF the transept,
100 feet, its breadth 60 feet; internal
length OF the nave, choir, and Lady
Chapel respectively, 1870, 80 and % feet.
The nave, choir anu lransept are divided
into center and side alslcs, which are
separated by series Of low arches spring
ing from plain octagonal and also clus-
teled columns, with rich capitals; and
over the arcade III the centerS trItoria are
carried around. Above these rise the
cIerestories. The ceiling of the nave is
open, that of the choir is groined. The
banners etc, Of the living Knights Of st.
Patrick are only displayed in the choir.
A quarter Of Il mite from st. Patrick
Cathedral, on the high ground which
runs from the east OF High Street 10 the
west OF Castle Street, and tlanked by
Michaei's Hill on the east and Fisham-
bic Street On the west, stands Christ
Chulch Cathedral Church OF the Holy
Trinity.) 1t is built upon the brow OF
the hill, receties to the north 200 feet, and
is (was) the most picturesque OF all the
old churches in Dublin. Il was devoted
to deanary and chapter in 1911. Like
st Patrick S, this venerable minister was
suffered to get into state OF decay, but
the deans did al! they could to stay the
hand OF time. among the many monu
mcnts the most beautiful IS that Of Rob-
ert Fitzgerald, nineteenth Earl OF Kill
dare. Strongbow's bones lie there, SO
that veracious historian, Geraldus Cam
brinus informs us. This was the daring
representative OF England's King Henry
II. lie married when i'll the autumn OF
life, the beautiful Eva the daughter OF
Dermod McMurrough.
The vaults are of great width and
depth and many story OF how visitors
got lost in them and were never heard of
any more, being eaten UP by rats, while
away the long winter evenings at many II
Dublin fireside. One story L remember
of an officer, Captain OF infantry, who
visited the vaults with Il small dog. The
Captain got lost. When found only his
skeleton remained His sword was
broken, hundreds OF skeletons OF dead
rats Law near him, and the bones of his
faithful dog.
The finishing touch had not been over
ten years on St. Patrlck's, when it was
limited that rich merchant was about TO
renovate Christ Church. The rumor was
true. Fifty years ago, a few doors west
of Murphy feather store, on the top floor
of winch Lord Edward Fitzgerald secret
ed himself and from which he WAS taken
prisoner, George Roe commenced to dis
til whisky. For while the Father Math
ew temperance movement almost bank
rupted him; but he pulled through,
and thirty years ago he was the second
distiller, OF whiskey in Ireland, John
Jameson being first. H became very
wealthy man, and was elected Lord May
or Of Dublin to succeed Daniel O'Connel
in 1918. Thirty years after he was Lord
Mayor he placed 100000 ($24S3,000)
to the credit of the Dean, to be used in
the thorough renovation of the church.
when the architect sent in his plans and
specifications it was found that it would
cost near 100000 to complete the work
go Oh then, sir; let it be e700,000,"
was the sentmcntious remark of the dis
tiller. Six years have been consumed
IN the work of restoration. The mag
n1fcent interior and the stately exterior
are Pronounced superior specimens Of
workmanship.