Gardiner Street Church

St Francis Xavier, Gardiner Street (Jesuit)

Gardiner StreetClassical

This church is still ahead. Its chapter will be written when its visit comes.

§What is known

Mass times

§Where

No photographs yet — the essay appears only after the visit.

§Notes

Fragments gathered while researching this church: stories, curiosities, people and dates.

The church organ appears in a scene of the 1991 film The Commitments.

The heritage record links the plan to the Gesu in Rome and the design to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette in Paris.

The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir, founded in 2000 by Kevin Kelly and Fr Edmond Grace SJ, is based at the church and performs at services there.

1829
Foundation stone laid The foundation stone of the church was laid on 2 July 1829, the year of Catholic Emancipation.
1832
Church opened The church opened for worship on 3 May 1832.
1851
Alterations by John B. Keane Keane carried out extensive alterations and additions in 1851-52.
1889
Funeral of Gerard Manley Hopkins High Mass and Office for the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ were held in the church on 11 June 1889, followed by burial in the Jesuit plot at Glasnevin Cemetery. He had died of typhoid fever on 8 June at 85 St Stephen's Green.
1960
Remains of Fr John Sullivan transferred The remains of Fr John Sullivan SJ were moved from Clongowes Wood cemetery to the Sacred Heart Chapel in the church.
2017
Beatification of John Sullivan John Sullivan SJ was declared Blessed in a ceremony at the church, the first beatification ever held in Ireland.

Fr Bartholomew Esmonde SJ Credited with the design — The Dictionary of Irish Architects records that the church is said to have been designed by Fr Esmonde, whose knowledge of Italian churches shaped it; he also designed the high altar, assembled in Rome.
John B. Keane (d. 1859) Supervising architect — Keane supervised construction from 1829 to 1832 and made extensive alterations in 1851-52. His later life was marked by debt and imprisonment; he died on 7 October 1859.
Terence Farrell Sculptor of the portico statues — The heritage record credits Farrell with the three Portland limestone statues over the pediment, representing the Sacred Heart, Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis Xavier.
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) Poet and Jesuit, funeral held here — Hopkins, then professor of Greek at University College Dublin, died on 8 June 1889; his funeral Mass took place in the church on 11 June before burial at Glasnevin.
Blessed John Sullivan SJ (1861-1933) Remains enshrined in the church — Sullivan, a convert and teacher at Clongowes Wood known for his care of the sick, was declared Venerable in 2014 and beatified in this church on 13 May 2017. His tomb receives petitions and a monthly healing Mass.
James Joyce (1882-1941) Set part of the story Grace in the church — The church is the setting of part of Grace in Dubliners.