St. Paul's Church (Church of Ireland)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
St. Paul's Church is a former Church of Ireland on North King Street, Smithfield, Dublin, presently the home of the Spade Enterprise Centre.[1]
Closure
The first church was opened on the site was constructed in 1702.
The present building was completed and opened in 1824, in the Gothic style, according to the plans of William Farrell.[2]
The parish was formerly part of St. Michan's, which was reduced to the area immediately around it, and two new parishes were established from St. Michans, St. Mary's and St. Paul's - land in North King Street on which St. Paul's was established was set aside in 1697.[3] The older St. Paul's church held its last service on Easter Sunday, 1821. 1830 seen some of the northern part of the parish moved to the newly established All Saints Church, Grangegorman parish.[4]
A chancel and porches were added by Albert E. Murray in 1880, reversing its orientation.[5]
In 1987 the doors of the Church were finally closed for good and it was de-consecrated, and worship was transferred back to St. Michan's.
People associated with St. Paul's
Rectors of the church include the Rev. Dr. Charles Carr (1708–1716) a subsequent Bishop of Killaloe, Rev. Dr. Oliver Brady, Rev. Dr. Boyle Travers, Rev. Dr. Dixie Blundell, Rev. Thomas Radcliffe and to Rev W. J. Le Fanu.[6] The older church was reputed to be the burial place of Robert Emmet,[7] and where the philosopher George Berkeley was consecrated as Bishop of Cloyne in 1734.[7]
Viscount Charlemont was one of the original churchwardens.