Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford

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Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford
Ardeaglais na Tríonóide Naofa, Ardteampall Chríost
Christ Church Cathedral Waterford from The Mall.jpg
Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford
Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford
52°15′35.73166″N7°6′26.56120″W / 52.2599254611°N 7.1073781111°W / 52.2599254611; -7.1073781111
Country Ireland
Denomination Church of Ireland
Website www.christchurchwaterford.com
History
Dedication Holy Trinity
Architecture
Architect John Roberts
Style Georgian
Groundbreaking1774
Completed1792
Administration
Province Province of Dublin
Diocese Diocese of Cashel and Ossory
Clergy
Bishop Bishop of Cashel and Ossory
Dean The Very Revd Bruce Hayes
Precentor Dean of Lismore
Archdeacon The Venerable J.G. Murray
Laity
Organist/Director of music Simon Harden
The altar, with the Tetragrammaton above. Church high altar.jpg
The altar, with the Tetragrammaton above.

Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford, or more formally, the Cathedral of The Holy Trinity, Christ Church, is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Waterford City, Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin. Previously the cathedral of the Diocese of Waterford, it is now one of six cathedrals in the United Dioceses of Cashel and Ossory.

Contents

Ecclesiastical history

Illustration of the north and west prospect of the cathedral by Jonas Blaymire in 1739. Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Waterford.jpg
Illustration of the north and west prospect of the cathedral by Jonas Blaymire in 1739.

The first church on the site was built in the 11th century. In 1170 it was the venue for the marriage of Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke ("Strongbow"), and Aoife Ní Diarmait.

Gothic church

This church was replaced in 1210 by a Gothic Cathedral. [1] Since Christ Church Cathedral was subject to the Protestant Reformation, Roman Catholic adherents were consequently obliged to worship elsewhere. This church was demolished in 1773.

Georg [2] ian church

In the 18th century, the city corporation recommended that the bishop erect a new building. William Halfpenny first made drawings of a palladian vernacular replacement in 1739 around the same time as Jonas Blaymire was also carrying out drawings and plans of the medieval cathedral.

The new design chosen was by the local architect John Roberts in 1774, who was also responsible for the Catholic cathedral and for much of Georgian Waterford including the adjacent Bishop's Palace which was completed from 1775. [3] [4] The steeple wasn't raised until 1783 and the building not finished finally until at least 1792.

During the demolition of the old cathedral, a series of medieval vestments were discovered in 1773. They were presented by the then Anglican bishop, the Rt Revd Richard Chenevix, to his Roman Catholic counterpart, the Most Revd Peter Creagh, and are now kept in the Museum of Treasures in Waterford and the National Museum in Dublin. [5]

The present building has been described by architectural historian Mark Girouard as the finest 18th century ecclesiastical building in Ireland. [3]

Burials and mounments

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Cathedrals of the Church of Ireland" Day, J.G.F./ Patton, H.E. p125: London, S.P.C.K., 1932
  2. ↑ "Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Square, WATERFORD CITY, Waterford, WATERFORD". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Christ Church Waterford". Christ Church Waterford. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  4. ↑ "Dictionary of Irish Architects". www.dia.ie. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  5. ↑ Treasures of Britain and Treasures of Ireland (1st ed.). London: Drive Publications for the Automobile Association. 1968. p.  631.
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