← The Church
To come

St James's Church

James's StreetGothic Revival, rich window tracery, carved parapets

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

§What is known
Built
1854 · Patrick Byrne
Style
Gothic Revival, rich window tracery, carved parapets
Dedication
St James's Church

Mass times

Sunday
10:00 AM
Monday
10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
Tuesday
10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
Wednesday
10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
§Where
Address
James's Street, Dublin 8
Open route ↗ Official website ↗ Return to the map

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

§Notes

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

Camino de Santiago pilgrim passports

The parish website states pilgrim passports for the Camino de Santiago can be obtained and stamped at the church's sacristy or its Camino Centre, and that the Camino Society of Ireland is based at the church, continuing a link the parish traces to the year 1220.

Claimed 1916 Plunkett-Gifford wedding connection, unverified

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage record states the church holds a chalice and ciborium from the 1916 wedding of Joseph Mary Plunkett and Grace Gifford. This is not corroborated here: widely published accounts place that wedding in the Kilmainham Gaol chapel, hours before Plunkett's execution. The claim is recorded but flagged as unverified against other sources within the research budget.

Timeline

  • 1220
    Beginning of the church's Camino de Santiago link The parish website states the church's link to Santiago de Compostela dates back to the year 1220, when pilgrims from this area departed for the Spanish shrine.
  • 1842
    Predecessor parish church founded Wikipedia states a parish church was founded on the site in 1842; the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage notes an 1842 crucifix from this predecessor church survives in the present building.
  • 1855
    Present church completed The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage dates construction of the present church to 1850-1855, designed by Patrick Byrne.
  • 1897
    High altar installed A high altar designed by G. C. Ashlin was installed in 1897, per the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

People

  • Patrick Byrne (1783-1864) Architect of the present church, 1850-1855 — Credited by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as the architect of Saint James's Church.
  • George Coppinger Ashlin (1837-1921) Designer of the 1897 high altar — Credited by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage with designing the church's high altar, installed in 1897.
  • Michael O'Connor Stained glass artist — Credited by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage with stained glass windows in the church.