Chapel Royal, Dublin

Coordinates: 53°20′35″N 6°15′59″W / 53.3431°N 6.2663°W / 53.3431; -6.2663
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Chapel Royal
An Seipeal Rioga
Year consecrated
1814[1]
StatusMuseum
Location
LocationDublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland
Chapel Royal, Dublin is located in Central Dublin
Chapel Royal, Dublin
Shown within Central Dublin
Geographic coordinates53°20′35″N 6°15′59″W / 53.3431°N 6.2663°W / 53.3431; -6.2663
Architecture
Architect(s)Francis Johnston
StyleGothic revival

The Chapel Royal in

Gothic revival chapel which served as the official Church of Ireland chapel of the Household of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1814 until the creation of the Irish Free State in December 1922, which terminated the office of Lord Lieutenant.[2] In 1943, the chapel was reconsecrated as a Catholic
place of worship and rededicated as the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, but it has not been used for worship since 1983.

Construction

The interior of the chapel looking west toward the organ and entrance
The interior of the chapel looking east toward the stained glass

Designed by

Gothic revival interiors in Ireland. Replacing an earlier undistinguished 18th-century church that suffered structural problems through being built on soft ground close to the site of the original castle moat, the new Chapel Royal was built using a timber frame to make it as light as possible. Indeed, so difficult was the nature of the site that the chapel took seven years to build, though a contributory factor in both time and budget was the "sheer opulence"[3]
of its interior.

The foundation stone was laid by

St. Petersburg
in the 1790s). The surroundings are painted glass, executed by a Mr Bradley in Dublin. At the apex of the window are the arms of Lord Whitworth.

The decoration of the ceiling of the interior was done by George Stapleton (son of Michael Stapleton), a leading stuccodore of the time, while sculptor Edward Smyth (responsible for the "river heads" on the Custom House) and his son John Smyth (responsible for the statues on the GPO) carved the larger figures. Over the chancel window are three life-size figures representing Faith, Hope and Charity. Over the galleries are heads representing Piety and Devotion. All the interior vaulting and columns are cast in timber and feature a paint wash (faux pierre) to give the effect of stone. It was described as having "the most flamboyant and luxurious Dublin interior of its era."[3]

The exterior was clad in a thin layer of "fine limestone from Tullamore quarry",

Archbishop Ussher and Jonathan Swift, done by Edward and John Smyth.[6]

Historical features

Brian Boru sculpture outside Chapel Royal

This was the third chapel in the castle, and the second on this spot, since medieval times. Before the completion of the Chapel Royal, the Lords Lieutenant their entourage and hangers-on sometimes attended St. Werburgh's Church at the rear of the Castle to the west. The enormous pulpit that used to dominate the Chapel Royal has now been removed to St. Werburgh's.[2]

Behind one of the galleries is a passage that leads to the bedrooms in the State Apartments. This was used by the Lord Lieutenant and his entourage when they were staying at the Castle. His pew (or throne) was in the centre of the right-hand gallery. Directly facing him was the place for the bishop. Lord Whitworth's arms appear directly at the Lord Lieutenant's position, a most prominent spot.

The organ case was constructed in 1857 to house a new organ by William Telford of Dublin, which replaced an earlier instrument by William Gray of London installed in 1815. A new organ was built by the firm Gray and Davison in 1900 into the same case. Although the case was restored in 2008, the organ is no longer playable as the pipework and mechanisms have been removed.[7]

As each Lord Lieutenant left office, their coat of arms was carved on the gallery, and then, when space ran out, placed in a window of the chapel. It was noted by Irish nationalists that the last window available was taken up by the man who proved to be the last Lord Lieutenant, The 1st Viscount FitzAlan of Derwent (himself a Catholic).[8]

Present day

In 1943, the Chapel was consecrated by

Roman Catholic military church, and in 1944 was renamed the Church of the Most Holy Trinity. The Stations of the Cross were carved by the monks in Glenstal Abbey
and presented to the church in 1946. Increasing structural problems caused its closure in the early 1980s. The building was restored and reopened in the early 1990s, although it has not since been used for worship. It is occasionally used for concerts and other events.

The Chapel was used in the television series

Enola Holmes 3 featuring Netflix star Millie Bobbie Brown
.

Panorama of the chapel interior Show in Panorama Viewer

See also

References and sources

Notes
  1. ^ "Chapel Royal: A Bicentennial Celebration". The Journal of Music: News, Reviews & Opinion | Music Jobs & Opportunities.
  2. ^ a b Costello (1999), p. 69
  3. ^ a b Lucey (2007), p. 91
  4. ^ Johnston (1896), p. 1
  5. ^ Johnston (1896), p. 2
  6. ^ McCarthy (2004), p. 128
  7. ^ David O'Shea, 'Music and Liturgy at the Chapel Royal' in Campbell and Derham (2015)
  8. ^ McCarthy (2004), p. 129
Sources

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chapel Royal, Dublin.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chapel_Royal,_Dublin&oldid=1220442033"