St. Michan's Church, Dublin

St. Michan's Church /ˈmɪʃən/ located in Church Street, Dublin, Ireland, is a Protestant church of the Anglican Communion. The first Christian chapel on this site dates from 1095, and operated as a Catholic church until the Reformation.^[3] The current church dates from 1686, and has served Church of Ireland parishioners in Dublin for more than 300 years.

Building

Built on the site of an early Danish chapel from 1095, the current structure dates largely from a reconstruction undertaken under William Robinson in 1686,^[3] but is still the only parish church on the north side of the Liffey surviving from a Viking foundation.

While the exterior of the church may be unimpressive, the interior boasts some fine woodwork, and an organ (dated 1724) on which Handel is said to have composed his Messiah.^[4]

Vaults

The vaults of St. Michan's uniquely contain many mummified remains.^[2] The walls in the vaults contain limestone, which has kept the air dry, creating ideal conditions for preservation.^[5] Among the preserved remains are the 400-year-old body of a nun, a six-and-a-half foot man popularly believed to have been a crusader, a body with its feet and right hand severed, and the Sheares brothers—Henry and John—who took part in the 1798 rebellion. The various holders of the title Earl of Leitrim were also interred here.^[6]

The church and vaults are open to tours on Saturdays, and seasonally on some weekdays. As an active place of worship however, the church is closed on Sunday to visitors.^[4]

Organ

The organ, built circa 1940 by Evans and Barr of Belfast, is housed within the eighteenth-century organ case constructed by John Baptiste Cuvillie between 1723-1725.^[7] The three manual pneumatic console employs modern compass and playing dimensions yet has been squeezed into the space originally occupied by much narrower keyboards. The Swell division features a slider soundboard, with separate pneumatic underaction; the Great and Choir divisions are served by sliderless ventil chests. Stopaction is pneumatic throughout.

In front of the gallery is the Organ Trophy, a carved wooden piece which depicts 17 musical instruments and was installed in 1724.^[7] It is widely considered that George Frideric Handel practised in advance of the first performance of Messiah on this organ.^[7][8]

Notable parishioners

Sir Mark Rainsford (c.1652–1709) was Lord Mayor of Dublin and owner of the brewery which was later sold to Arthur Guinness. He was married to Isabella Bolton in St Michan's on the 16 May 1695.

Dr Charles Lucas (1713-1771) was a physician and Member of Parliament for Dublin city.^[6] He was buried at St Michan's in 1771.

Roger Ludlow (1590-1666) was a parishioner and one of the founders of the Connecticut colony.

Map of Dublin in 1610 (reprint from 1896) showing St. Michan's Church (Top left #1)

Gallery

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  Spire

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  Coffins

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  Mummies in vault

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  Crypt

References