Parish of St. Nicholas Without
27 Apr 1963The Parish of St. Nicholas Without, is one of the most historic parishes in Dublin City. It is a long narrow strip between New Street, and the Poddle, and is of great antiquity.
The first church stood near Limerick Alley (between Patrick Street and Francis Street). But for a long time the north transept of St. Patrick’s Cathedral was in use as the parish Church. The transept was in ruins from 1784 till 1825, when it Was re-roofed. In 1861 it was reunited to St. Lukes (which had been formed from part of it), and both parishes now occupy the same church.
The Church of Ireland parish of St. Luke was formed by Act of parliament in 1708. Then a new church was built. Those of the Huguenot weavers who conformed to the Church of Ireland were already accommodated in the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick’s, but the new parish church was needed as an overflow from this.
It stands back from the Coombe at the head of a pleasant tree-planted avenue, almost opposite the old Weaver’s Hall, It was re-roofed in 1835, re-opened after extensive repairs in 1884 (when the galleries were removed) and was re-modelled at the East end in 1907, in the classic manner.
The present North porch is not original, but traces of the old entrance can still be seen. Internally, the most noteworthy feature is the West end.
Some handsome old stairs lead to the gallery, in which is the organ, with gold gilt cherubs’ heads. At the Southeast corner is the vestry, a panelled room which dates from the first building.
It contains a chest of, perhaps, the latter part of the sixteenth century and a set of fine chairs circa, the Wiliam III period. William was, of course, Prince of Orange, the man who beat James at the Battle of the Bovne.
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