Christianity in Ireland
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Christianity (
Most Christian churches are organized on an "all-Ireland" basis, including both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, 69% of the population adheres to the Catholic Church.[1] In Northern Ireland, the various branches of Protestantism collectively form a plurality of the population, but the single largest church is the Catholic Church, which accounts for some 40.8% of the population.[2] There is also a small presence of other churches, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church growing at the beginning of the 21st century.[3][4]
Despite being a nation once noted for perpetually intense Christian faith and mores even a couple generations ago in the early 20th century, a "Quiet Revolution" like the
Demographic statistics
![[icon]](/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2009) |
Republic of Ireland, 2011
| Religion | Number ('000) |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church in Ireland | 3,861.3 |
Church of Ireland (Anglican)
|
129.0 |
| Presbyterian | 24.6 |
| Apostolic or Pentecostal
|
14.0 |
| Other Christian | 41.2 |
| Muslim | 49.2 |
| Other non-Christian | 81.0 |
| No religion/Atheist | 269.8 |
| Not stated | 72.9 |
| Total (including no religion and other religions) |
4,588.2 |
Northern Ireland, 2011
| Religion | Adherents | % |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 738,033 | 40.8 |
| Presbyterian Church in Ireland | 345,101 | 19.1 |
| Church of Ireland | 248,821 | 13.7 |
| Methodist Church in Ireland | 54,253 | 3.0 |
| Other Christian (Including Christian Related) | 104,380 | 5.8 |
| (Total non-Catholic Christian) | 752,555 | 41.6 |
| Other Religions and Philosophies | 14,859 | 0.8 |
| No religion or Religion not Stated | 305,416 | 16.9 |
- Source: UK 2011 Census.[12]
Christian Churches in Ireland
| Christian denominations in Ireland |
|---|
| Irish interchurch |
Catholic Church
Catholicism in Ireland is part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Catholic Church in Ireland serves Catholics in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland under the spiritual leadership of Pope Francis and the Conference of Irish Bishops. In the Republic of Ireland, 87.4% of the citizens were baptised Catholic as infants while the figure for Northern Ireland is 43.8%.[13][14]
Christianity had arrived in Ireland by the early 5th century, and spread through the works of early missionaries such as
There are many
Protestantism
The majority of the people of
 |
In the Republic of Ireland, approximately 3% were recorded as members of various Protestant (1991). The proportion was more than 10% in 1891 – a drop to less than a third of the previous percentage. The percentage in 2011 is almost 5%.
In 1861, only the west coast and Kilkenny had less than 6% Protestant population. Dublin and two of the border counties had over 20% Protestant. By 1991, however, all counties had fewer than 6% Protestants, with four having less than 1%. There are no counties in the Republic of Ireland which have experienced a rise in the relative Protestant population over the period 1861 to 1991. The counties which retain the highest proportion of Protestants tend to be those which started off with a large proportion. In Northern Ireland, only counties Londonderry, Tyrone and Armagh have experienced a significant loss of relative Protestant population, though at a lesser rate than in the Republic.
Anglicanism
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the
When the church in England broke communion from the Catholic Church, all but two of the bishops of the Church in Ireland followed the Church of England,[
Like other Irish churches, the Church of Ireland did not divide when Ireland was
It has been reported that Irish Catholics are joining the Church of Ireland "in strong numbers."[19]
The 16th-century apologist
The contemporary Church of Ireland, despite having a number of
The Church of Ireland has two cathedrals in Dublin: within the walls of the old city is
The Church in 1999 voted to prohibit the flying of flags other than the
Membership
The Church of Ireland experienced major decline during the 20th century, both in Northern Ireland, where around 65% of its members live, and in the Republic of Ireland which contains upwards of 35%. However, the Church of Ireland in the Republic has shown substantial growth in the last two national censuses; its membership is now back to the levels of sixty years ago[when?] (albeit with fewer churches as many have been closed). Church membership increased by 8.7% in the period 2002–2006, during which the population as a whole increased by only 8.2%.[22] Various reasons for this increase have been proposed. One such theory is the relaxation of the Ne Temere regulations that stipulated that children of mixed Catholic-Protestant marriages should be brought up as Catholics. It is also partly explained by the number of Anglican immigrants who have moved to Ireland recently. In addition, some parishes, especially in middle-class areas of the larger cities, report significant numbers of Catholics joining the Church of Ireland.[23] A number of clergy originally ordained in the Catholic Church have now become Church of Ireland clergy[24] and many former Catholics also put themselves forward for ordination after they had become members of the Church of Ireland.[25][26]
The 2006 Census in the Republic of Ireland showed that the numbers of people describing themselves as members of the Church of Ireland increased in every county. The highest percentage growth was in the west (Counties Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon) and the largest numerical growth was in the mid-east region (Wicklow, Kildare, and Meath). Co Wicklow is the county with the highest proportion of Church of Ireland members (6.88%); Greystones Co. Wicklow has the highest proportion of any town (9.77%).
Structure
The polity of the Church of Ireland is
Canon law and church policy are decided by the Church's General Synod, and changes in policy must be passed by both the House of Bishops and the House of Representatives (Clergy and Laity). Important changes, e.g., the decision to ordain female priests, must be passed by two-thirds majorities. While the House of Representatives always votes publicly, often by orders, the House of Bishops has tended to vote in private, coming to a decision before matters reach the floor of the Synod. This practice has been broken only once, when in 1999 the House of Bishops voted unanimously in public to endorse the efforts of the Archbishop of Armagh, the Diocese of Armagh, and the Standing Committee of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland in their attempts to resolve the crisis at the Church of the Ascension at Drumcree, near Portadown.
The Church of Ireland embraces three orders of ministry: deacon, priest (or presbyter), and bishop. These orders are distinct from functional titles such as rector, vicar or canon.
Presbyterianism
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The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, operating on an all-Ireland basis, is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland. The motto is Ardens sed Virens – burning but flourishing. The Church has a membership of approximately 300,000 people in 550 congregations across Ireland. About 96% of the membership is in Northern Ireland. It is the second largest church in Northern Ireland, the first being the Catholic Church in the Republic of Ireland the church is the second largest Protestant denomination, after the Church of Ireland.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is involved in education, evangelism, social service and mission in a number of areas around the world. The Word of God is central in the Presbyterian Church, along with prayer and praise. The order of service varies from church to church but it generally involves a hymn, followed by a prayer, followed by a children's address and a children's hymn. This is then followed by an expository sermon by the minister and another hymn, then another prayer and a closing hymn. Many Presbyterian churches mix Psalms and formal hymns with choruses, suitable for children, and many churches now have praise bands with a variety of instruments, as well as the traditional organ.
The current (2023–24)
- Other Presbyterian denominations in Ireland
- Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
- Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Evangelical movements
Eastern Orthodoxy
Self-governing bodies from various traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy (mainly Greek, Russian, Romanian) have organized in Ireland since the early 20th century.
Oriental Orthodoxy
Various self-governing bodies from the traditions of
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Quakers first organised themselves in Ireland in 1654 and have 28 congregations with 2000 members. Quakers are organised on an all island basis.
Non-Trinitarian
Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 13 congregations and claims more than 2,900 members in the Republic of Ireland.[30] In addition, the church has 11 congregations in Northern Ireland.[31]
History
The introduction of Christianity to Ireland dates to sometime before the 5th century, presumably in interactions with Roman Britain. All that can be certain is that by 430, Palladius, a bishop born in France was sent by Pope Celestine to minister to the "Scots believing in Christ." While this is evidence of Christianity existing prior to 430, nothing more may be said for certain.
Apostle of the Irish
The traditional story of St Patrick says he was from Bannavem Taburniae, the location of which is unclear. His birthplace is not known with any certainty; some traditions place it in England—one identifying it as Glannoventa (modern
Missionaries Abroad
These monasteries served as sanctuary to many of the continents great scholars and theologians. It was here that the lamp of Latin learning was preserved for the ages. During this age, the great illuminated manuscripts of Ireland were produced. Arguably the finest example of such works is The Book of Kells which may still be viewed at
The first significant renewal of learning in the West came with the
Irish scholars had a considerable presence in the
The Vikings arrive
During the ninth & tenth centuries, waves of Norse warriors ransacked the countryside. The monasteries were favourite targets for their treasures of silver religious ornaments.
Cambro-Normans
In the first year of his reign (1154), Henry II of England procured a Bull from the English-born Pope Adrian IV authorising him to proceed to Ireland "to check the torrent of wickedness to reform evil manners, to sow the seeds of virtue." The following year, Adrian authorised Henry II to invade Ireland in order "to proclaim the truths of the Christian religion to a rude and ignorant people"; on condition that a penny should be yearly paid from each house to the See of Rome.
In 1168 Macmurrogh, King of Leinster, driven from his kingdom sought Henry's aid, and then Adrian's Bull was remembered. A contingent of
In late 1171, an assembly of the Irish clergy gathered at Cashel which proclaimed Henry's title to the sovereign dominion of Ireland. They also took the oath of fidelity to him and his successors.
Pope Alexander III was gratified with this extension of his dominion, and in September 1172 issued a brief confirming the bull of Adrian, and expressing a hope that "the barbarous nation" would attain under the government of Henry "to some decency of manners;" he also wrote three epistles—one to Henry II., one to the kings and nobles of Ireland, and one to its hierarchy—enjoining obedience of Ireland to England, and of both to the see of St. Peter.
In some ways, the change was advantageous to the church hierarchy. Under the ancient system, the native chieftains were absolute master over all their followers, including the clergy. According to the new order introduced by Henry II, the chieftains no longer had authority over the clergy. To maintain their sovereignty over the Irish clergy, the English Kings filled the vacant sees mostly with Englishmen. The Irish clergy in turn appealed to Rome to confirm their nomination. Jealousy, hostility and disputes characterised the relations between the English and the Irish ecclesiastics; the latter sought to transfer their allegiance as churchmen from the sovereign of England to the pope of Rome, so that the struggle for supremacy lasted for centuries.
The Crown of England did not gain full control of Ireland until the 16th and 17th centuries, during which the whole island was subjected to a number of military campaigns in the period 1534–1691. During this period, the island was colonised by English and Scottish Protestant settlers. Most of the Irish remained Catholic.
Reformation
In 1536 during the
During the
The
The
The Church of Ireland undertook the first publication of Scripture in Irish. The first Irish translation of the New Testament was begun by
The English-speaking minority mostly adhered to the Church of Ireland or to Presbyterianism, while the Irish-speaking majority remained faithful to Catholicism, which remained by far the majority denomination in Ireland.
Union with Great Britain
When Ireland was
In 1833, the British Government proposed the Irish Church Measure to reduce the 22 archbishops and bishops who oversaw the Anglican minority in Ireland to a total of 12 by amalgamating sees and using the revenues saved for the use of parishes. This sparked the Oxford Movement[citation needed], which was to have wide repercussions for the Anglican Communion.
As the official established church, the Church of Ireland was funded partially by
The Irish Church Act 1869 (which took effect in 1871) finally ended the role of the Church of Ireland as state church. This terminated both state support and parliament's role in its governance, but also took into government ownership much church property. Compensation was provided to clergy, but many parishes faced great difficulty in local financing after the loss of rent-generating lands and buildings. The Church of Ireland made provision in 1870 for its own government, led by a General Synod, and with financial management by a Representative Church Body. With disestablishment, the last remnants of tithes were abolished and the Church's representation in the House of Lords also ceased.
Sectarianism in Ireland
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The overthrow, in 1613, of the Catholic majority in the Irish parliament was realised principally through the creation of numerous new boroughs, all of which were Protestant-dominated. By the end of the seventeenth century all Catholics, representing some 85% of Ireland's population then, were banned from the Irish parliament. Political power rested entirely in the hands of a British settler-colonial, and more specifically
By the late 18th century, many of the
The Penal Laws against Catholics (and also
Sectarian conflict was continued in the late 18th century in the form of communal violence between rival Catholic and Protestant factions over land and trading rights (see
In modern
More specifically religious anti-Protestantism in Ireland was evidenced by the acceptance of the Ne Temere decrees in the early 20th century, whereby the Catholic Church decreed that all children born into mixed Catholic-Protestant marriages had to be brought up as Catholics. Protestants in Northern Ireland had long held that their religious liberty would be threatened under a 32-county Republic of Ireland, due to that country's Constitutional support of a "special place" in government for the Catholic Church. This was amended in the Republic of Ireland in 1970 however.
The reasons for the dismissal of Mayo librarian Letitia Dunbar-Harrison are sometimes claimed to have been due to anti-Protestant prejudice, but others claim that her qualifications were the main reason and others claim a power struggle between the government in Dublin and local Mayo politics.
See also
- Apostolic Nunciature to Ireland
- Ardbraccan
- Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland
- Bishops' Selection Conference
- Laudabiliter
- List of Anglican dioceses in the United Kingdom and Ireland
- List of cathedrals in Ireland
- List of Catholic dioceses in Ireland
- List of monastic houses in Ireland
- Religion in the United Kingdom
- Segregation in Northern Ireland
- Ulster Scots people
References
- ^ "Table 36: Persons, male and female, classified by religious denomination with actual percentage change, 2006 and 2011" (PDF). This is Ireland, Highlights from Census 2011, Part 1. Central Statistics Office. p. 104. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- ^ "Census 2011: Key Statistics for Northern Ireland" (PDF). nisra.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
- ^ "Number of Orthodox Christians in Ireland DOUBLES in Five Years". Journey To Orthodoxy. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Profile of the Orthodox Churches in Ireland". HSE.ie. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ Serhan, Yasmeen (26 May 2018). "A 'Quiet Revolution' Comes to Ireland". The Atlantic. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Fifth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1972". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1983". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ Walsh, Dick (6 April 1983). "Bishop defends Hierarchy on amendment". The Irish Times. p. 11.
- ^ Conneely, Ailbhe (18 September 2018). "Eighth Amendment repealed after bill signed into law". RTÉ. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Act 2018". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ McGarry, Patsy (7 May 2021). "'A possible disaster': Catholic Church reckons with declining interest post-pandemic". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Ethnicity, Identity, Language and Religion – Religion – Full Detail: QS218NI". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Archived from the original (MS Excel) on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ CIA FActbook, Ireland. Cia.gov.
- ^ ECNI – News. Equalityni.org (18 December 2007).
- ^ Catholic Bishop's Conference Archived 7 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Brownlee, Attracta, "Irish travellers and 'powerful priests'. 97 – 110 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011
- ^ Mulholland, Peter, "Marian apparitions, the New Age and the FAS prophet". 53 – 73 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011
- ^ Protestant and Catholic, APCK Study Leaflet, 1996
- ^ The Catholic Church in Ireland is losing market share: some would call this a healthy development. Independent.ie (7 March 2009).
- ^ Anglican Listening Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine Detail on how scripture, tradition and reason work to "uphold and critique each other in a dynamic way".
- ^ Flags of the World: St. Patrick's Flag as flag of Church of Ireland: "The General Synod of the Church of Ireland recognises that from time to time confusion and controversy have attended the flying of flags on church buildings or within the grounds of church buildings. This Synod therefore resolves that the only flags specifically authorised to be flown on church buildings or within the church grounds of the Church of Ireland are the cross of St. Patrick or, alternatively, the flag of the Anglican Communion bearing the emblem of the Compassrose. Such flags are authorised to be flown only on Holy Days and during the Octaves of Christmas, Easter, the Ascension of Our Lord, Pentecost, and on any other such day as may be recognised locally as the Dedication Day of the particular church building. Any other flag flown at any other time is not specifically authorised by this Church...."
- ^ Republic of Ireland Central Statistics Office, Census 2006: Principal Demographic Results.
- ^ "Archbishop John Neill", Irish Independent, 17 October 2007.
- ^ From Catholic Priest to Church of Ireland Rector, Changing Collars, by Mark Hayden, Columba Press [1] Archived 21 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Western People newspaper, June 6th 2007 Archived 14 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Anglican Dean quit Catholic Church 'over celibacy rules'". Irish Independent, 26 February 2008.
- ^ Presbyterian Church in Ireland Press Release, 2003 Presbyterian College Celebrates 150 Years Archived 19 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 March 2008.
- ^ Jackson Noble, Ruth, "The changing face of Irish Christianity". 131 – 146 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011
- ^ Gierek, Bozena, "Celtic spirituality in contemporary Ireland". 300 – 317 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011
- ^ "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country", Newsroom, LDS Church, 31 December 2011, retrieved 9 December 2012
- ^ LDS Meetinghouse Locator. churchofjesuschrist.org (21 February 2012).
- ^ De Paor glosses it as "[probably near] Carlisle" and Thomas argues at length for the areas of Birdoswald, twenty miles (32 km) east of Carlisle on Hadrian's Wall. There is a Roman town known as Bannaventa in Northamptonshire, but this is likely too far from the sea. See De Paor 1993, pp. 88, 96; Thomas 1981, pp. 310–14; Bury 1905, p. 17
- ^ a b The Catholic Encyclopedia states he was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland. PD-icon.svg Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Patrick". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ "St. Patrick". Catholic Online. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ MacManus, p 215
- ^ a b c "John Scottus Eriugena". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University. 17 October 2004. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
- ^ Toman, p 10: "Abelard himself was… together with John Scotus Erigena (9th century), and Lanfranc and Anselm of Canterbury (both 11th century), one of the founders of scholasticism."
- ^ Creeds of Christendom, with a History and Critical notes. Volume I. The History of Creeds. Christian Classics Ethereal Library (13 July 2005).