What if these stones could talk? They would tell tales of Ireland’s story etched within St Patrick’s Cathedral. Founded in 1191, St Patrick’s Cathedral stands as the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. But St Patrick’s was initially a Roman Catholic cathedral.
Interestingly, St Patrick’s Cathedral is not the seat of a bishop. That honor belongs to Christ Church Cathedral. Since 1870, St Patrick’s has served as the National Cathedral. It draws members from all twelve Church of Ireland dioceses.
Now, let’s journey back to the origins of St Patrick’s Cathedral. In 1192, Archbishop John Comyn elevated a Celtic parish church to collegiate status. This church was dedicated to Saint Patrick. It stood beside a holy well between two branches of the River Poddle. This act created new civic territories under the archbishop’s control. The church was dedicated to God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St Patrick.
Between 1191 and 1270, the foundation of the present St Patrick’s Cathedral was built. Henry of London oversaw much of the work. He was a friend of the King of England and a signatory of the Magna Carta. King Henry III allowed donations to be collected for reconstruction. The work lasted until the rededication in 1254.
In 1300, an agreement was arranged between St Patrick’s and Christ Church. This agreement acknowledged both as cathedrals. In 1311, the Medieval University of Dublin was founded here. William de Rodyard the Dean of St Patrick’s was its first Chancellor.
After the English Reformation, St Patrick’s became an Anglican church. Soldiers defaced images within the cathedral in the 1530s. The nave collapsed due to neglect in 1544. Under King Edward VI, St Patrick’s Cathedral was suppressed. The building became a parish church again.
During Oliver Cromwell’s stay in Dublin, he stabled his horses in the nave of St Patrick’s Cathedral. This was to show his disrespect for the Anglican religion. Repairs began after the monarchy was restored in 1660.
From 1713 to 1745, Jonathan Swift was the dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral. He was the author of Gulliver’s Travels. His grave and epitaph are inside St Patrick’s Cathedral.
In 1749, the spire was added to St Patrick’s Cathedral. It remains one of Dublin’s landmarks. From 1783 to 1871, St Patrick’s served as the Chapel of the Order of Saint Patrick.
A major reconstruction occurred between 1860 and 1865. Benjamin Guinness paid for it. In 1871, St Patrick’s became the National Cathedral. Christ Church became the cathedral of the Dublin diocese.
Today, St Patrick’s Cathedral hosts national ceremonies. Remembrance Day ceremonies take place here every November. The funerals of two Irish presidents were held here.
Legend says that the expression “chancing your arm” originated here. The Earl of Kildare cut a hole in a door and put his arm through it to shake hands in friendship. You can still see that door today.
St Patrick’s Cathedral has over 500 people buried on its grounds. Jonathan Swift is among them. The organ of St Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the largest in Ireland. Parts of it date back to 1695. The bells of St Patrick’s Cathedral are the heaviest change-ringing peal in Ireland.
So, as you stand before St Patrick’s Cathedral remember its long and rich history. It is a place of worship a monument to the past and a symbol of Irish identity.