Did you know St Matthew’s Church in Ringsend was once called the Royal Chapel of St Matthew? It’s right here before you a testament to Dublin’s rich history.
St Matthew’s Parish wasn’t always this grand. It began humbly in 1704 serving Ringsend’s growing population. Sailors fishermen and customs officials needed a place of worship. Donnybrook’s church was too far away often cut off by tides and marshland. Archbishop William King petitioned the government for funding. Parliament agreed. Hence the “Royal” title a status it held until 1871.
The original church was smaller just a rectangle. There were no transepts. A gallery ran around the entire building. The organ and choir were up high facing the altar. The tower was initially short. In 1713 Dublin Corporation requested it be raised to improve navigation for ships along the dangerous coast. A pyramidal steeple was added but lost to a storm in 1839.
Imagine life in 1723. Rev John Bohereau became the first minister. Before him priests from Donnybrook served the parish. A school dispensary and shop for the poor were built nearby in 1832. They served the community for years disappearing only in the 1960s. The church’s location has changed too. Land reclamation moved it further inland.
The disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1871 changed things. St Matthew’s lost its royal status. Rev William Stoney became the first rector. He oversaw major renovations doubling the church’s length adding transepts. He removed the galleries relocated the organ and replaced family pew ownership. The beautiful mosaic floor and stained-glass windows are from this period. One window depicts Christ stilling the waves a gift from a church warden in memory of his seafaring son.
In the 1970s a parish hall was created within the church. The front doors were sealed. An entrance at the side was used. The main entrance was only restored in 2018. This restored entrance invites everyone.
St Matthew’s began as a navigational beacon. It continues to be a beacon for those navigating life’s journey. A place of quiet reflection and community engagement. Explore its history. Feel its enduring spirit.