Question: Ever wonder what became of a church after its doors closed for good? St. Paul’s Church in Dublin tells such a tale. It stands on North King Street in Smithfield. Today, St. Paul’s Church is the home of the Spade Enterprise Centre.
St. Paul’s Church has a rich history. The first church on this site opened in 1702. But the building we see today was completed in 1824. William Farrell designed it in the Gothic style. St. Paul’s was once part of St. Michan’s parish. As the city grew, St. Michan’s was divided. St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s became new parishes. Land for St. Paul’s was set aside in 1697.
The older St. Paul’s church held its final service on Easter Sunday in 1821. In 1830, part of St. Paul’s parish moved to All Saints Church in Grangegorman. Over the years, changes were made to St. Paul’s. Albert E. Murray added a chancel and porches in 1880. This reversed the church’s original layout.
However, St. Paul’s story took a turn. In 1987, the church closed its doors for good. It was deconsecrated. Worship moved back to St. Michan’s.
Many people were associated with St. Paul’s. Rectors included Rev. Dr. Charles Carr and Rev. W. J. Le Fanu. The older church was said to be the burial place of Robert Emmet. George Berkeley was consecrated as Bishop of Cloyne here in 1734. Viscount Charlemont was an original churchwarden.
St. Paul’s also had a cemetery. It was the main burial ground for the nearby Dublin garrison. A monument honored Lt. Col. Lyde Browne. He was killed by the United Irishmen in 1803. A tablet remembered three privates killed in the same insurrection. The Ormsby family also had a mausoleum here. The graveyard closed in the 1860s.
Today, much of the graveyard is under tarmac. The remaining area is covered in gravel. A former school building now houses a community center. Records of St. Paul’s Church are well-preserved. Church of Ireland records from 1702 to 1892 are at the Representative Church Body. Burial records are at the Genealogical Office. Minute books record church proceedings back to 1698.
So, as you stand here, remember St. Paul’s. It transformed from a place of worship to a center for enterprise. Its stones hold stories of faith, community and change.