St Catherine's Church, Dublin (Church of Ireland)

Parish history In 1177, the parish of St. James is mentioned as part of the Augustinian abbey of St. Thomas (from which Thomas Street got its name), and the church of St. Catherine was a chapel-of-ease to the abbey. By the end of the 13th century, the western suburbs had so increased in population that a separate parish was deemed necessary. This was provided for by splitting the parish of St. James and setting up an independent parish for St. Catherine's. Both parishes were still subservient to the Abbey of St. Thomas, but in 1539 the abbey was dissolved with all the monasteries by Henry VIII. In the surrender made by Henry Duffe, the last Abbot, "the Churches of St. Catherine and St. James near Dublin" were included. Both churches, now independent, had new curates appointed by the crown: Sir John Brace to St. Catherine's (which was shortly taken over by Peter Ledwich (or Ledwidge)) and Sir John Butler to St. James. Over the following hundred years, both churches passed over to the reformed church, while Roman Catholic priests led a precarious existence tending to the larger part of the population, which remained faithful to the old religion. Building history The building that stands now was originally built between 1760 and 1769 to the designs of the architect John Smyth The new church cost £7,000 with the foundation stone laid in 1760 and the church opening for worship in 1769. Joseph Jarratt was also paid for some works at the church In 1803 the church was the site of Robert Emmet's execution - and a plaque commemorating this remains today. Into the 20th century, the Protestant population of the Liberties area of the city declined, and the church closed in September 1966. It was de-consecrated the following year. In 1990 Dublin Corporation offered the church for sale as part of an inner city development plan. An Anglican group (City Outreach for Renewal and Evangelism - CORE) took on the refurbishment of the church in 1993, and the interior was largely restored by the end of 1998. In early November 1998 St. Catherine's was reconsecrated and has been an active place of worship since then. ==Church architecture==

Historian Maurice Craig wrote that St. Catherine's has "the finest façade of any church in Dublin". Its façade is built of mountain granite and has in the centre four Doric semi-columns supporting a pediment, and at the extremities coupled pilasters. Internally, St. Catherine's is a galleried church (a type common in Dublin from the late 17th century) Architects Curdy and Mitchell restored the church in 1877 and during the following decade an interior reordering was undertaken by architect James Franklin Fuller, during which the old box pews were replaced with open ones. The crypt contains the remains of several Earls of Meath. Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl of Fingall, fatally wounded at the Battle of Rathmines, was buried in St Catherine's in August 1649. ==Cemetery==

The churchyard and cemetery lie to the rear of St. Catherine's. Originally dating to 1552, burials ceased in 1894. The cemetery is now a small public park. There is a plot which was provided by the Protestant Orphan Society for the burial of orphans, in the churchyard. There is a memorial to those who took part in the 1803 Rising, and were hanged, some were hanged on Thomas Street. ==Clergy==

According to early records the vicar of St. Catherine's, in 1551, was Rev. Peter Lodowicke (Ledwich) and his successor was Rev. John Hande. Notable clergy to have served in St. Catherines include the rectors Rev. James Whitelaw (1749–1813), ==Notable parishioners==

• James Whitelaw (1749–1813), historian and statistician, was clergyman in this parish when he died of a fever contracted while visiting afflicted parishioners. • William Mylne (1734–1790), architect and engineer, who was responsible for the waterworks of Dublin, commemorated by a plaque in the church. ==See also==