St. Luke's Church, Dublin
Encyclopedia
St. Luke's Church is a former Church of Ireland
parish church in Dublin, Ireland
. It is located on The Coombe
, not far from St. Patrick's Cathedral.
, an act of parliament was passed, dividing the parish of St. Nicholas Without
and giving part of it the denomination of St. Luke's. A Glebe House was erected on The Coombe
for the vicar, who was nominated by the Chapter of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the church of St. Luke erected not far from the Glebe, probably by Thomas Burgh, Surveyor General.
It has been said that the church was built mainly for the benefit of the conformist French Huguenot weavers who lived in the neighbourhood. However, very few, if any, French names appeared in the parish registers from this time - the Huguenots had their own place of worship in a chapel in nearby St. Patrick's Cathedral. However, there was a huge influx of weavers and others associated with the silk and poplin industries and cotton and wool manufacture.
The church was closed in 1975. It was burned by an arsonist in 1986. It is in the ownership of Dublin City Council and is listed for conservation by the Council.
, which in turn was located to the west of the medieval city of Dublin. The northern boundary was the Coombe.
Most of the parish population in the late 17th and 18th centuries were weavers in the Dublin Liberties
. Wool manufacturing more or less died out after the Wool Act of 1699, which prevented the export of Irish wool, but silk, cotton and poplin industries continued to employ large numbers and generate wealth until the end of the 18th century. In 1766, in order to check the growth of Catholics, the British government ordered a religious census to be carried out by the Protestant clergy, which showed the parish had 4,953 Catholics and 2,908 Protestants. The Catholics did not have a parish church of their own in this parish, but belonged to the Catholic St. Nicholas
parish, but they did, from 1729, have six schools here, all run by women.
After the collapse of the weaving trade and the economic slump after the Act of Union
, most of the parishioners were left destitute. So proverbial was this parish for its poverty, that in the 19th century the advertisement of the annual charity sermon for St. Luke's was headed by the words, "The Poorest Parish in Dublin."
A school was established for poor boys of the parish in 1810. When the school was moved to New Street in 1862, the building was converted to form the Widows Alms House, which is still standing.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
parish church in Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is located on The Coombe
The Coombe, Dublin
The Coombe is a historic street in the south inner city of Dublin, Ireland. It was originally a hollow or valley from where the river Poddle ran to the sea.-History:...
, not far from St. Patrick's Cathedral.
The church
In 17081708 in Ireland
-Events:*The original wooden Belfast Castle, the home of Sir Arthur Chichester, baron of Belfast, is burned down.*An act of parliament was passed, dividing the parish of St. Nicholas Without in Dublin, and giving part of it the denomination of St...
, an act of parliament was passed, dividing the parish of St. Nicholas Without
Church of St. Nicholas Without, Dublin
St. Nicholas Without is a former Church of Ireland parish church in Dublin, Ireland. For several hundred years the north transept of St. Patrick's Cathedral formed the church, with a wall separating it from the cathedral.-The church:...
and giving part of it the denomination of St. Luke's. A Glebe House was erected on The Coombe
The Coombe, Dublin
The Coombe is a historic street in the south inner city of Dublin, Ireland. It was originally a hollow or valley from where the river Poddle ran to the sea.-History:...
for the vicar, who was nominated by the Chapter of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the church of St. Luke erected not far from the Glebe, probably by Thomas Burgh, Surveyor General.
It has been said that the church was built mainly for the benefit of the conformist French Huguenot weavers who lived in the neighbourhood. However, very few, if any, French names appeared in the parish registers from this time - the Huguenots had their own place of worship in a chapel in nearby St. Patrick's Cathedral. However, there was a huge influx of weavers and others associated with the silk and poplin industries and cotton and wool manufacture.
The church was closed in 1975. It was burned by an arsonist in 1986. It is in the ownership of Dublin City Council and is listed for conservation by the Council.
The cemetery
Behind the church was a small cemetery. Among those interred there was Mr. Justice Hellen, second Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland, who died in 1793. Also buried here were the family of famous publisher Alexander Thom. The relief road leading to Cork St., built 1980-2000, cut through the old cemetery.The parish
The parish lay at the southern end of the Liberty of Thomas Court and DonoreLiberty of Thomas Court and Donore
The Liberty of Thomas Court and Donore was one of several manors, or liberties, that existed in Dublin, Ireland since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century...
, which in turn was located to the west of the medieval city of Dublin. The northern boundary was the Coombe.
Most of the parish population in the late 17th and 18th centuries were weavers in the Dublin Liberties
The Liberties
The Liberties of Dublin, Ireland were jurisdictions that existed since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. They were town lands united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction. The most important of these liberties were the Liberty of St...
. Wool manufacturing more or less died out after the Wool Act of 1699, which prevented the export of Irish wool, but silk, cotton and poplin industries continued to employ large numbers and generate wealth until the end of the 18th century. In 1766, in order to check the growth of Catholics, the British government ordered a religious census to be carried out by the Protestant clergy, which showed the parish had 4,953 Catholics and 2,908 Protestants. The Catholics did not have a parish church of their own in this parish, but belonged to the Catholic St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas of Myra (Without), Francis Street
St. Nicholas of Myra is a Roman Catholic church on Francis Street, Dublin that is still in use today. The site has been used as a place of worship as far back as the 12th century. The current church was built in 1829 and dedicated to Saint Nicholas in 1835.-History:On the site where the current...
parish, but they did, from 1729, have six schools here, all run by women.
After the collapse of the weaving trade and the economic slump after the Act of Union
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
, most of the parishioners were left destitute. So proverbial was this parish for its poverty, that in the 19th century the advertisement of the annual charity sermon for St. Luke's was headed by the words, "The Poorest Parish in Dublin."
A school was established for poor boys of the parish in 1810. When the school was moved to New Street in 1862, the building was converted to form the Widows Alms House, which is still standing.