St John's Cathedral (Limerick) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Cathedral |
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Ardeaglais Naomh Eoin
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 St John's Cathedral
Location in Ireland
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| 52°39′45″N 8°37′00″W / 52.66250°N 8.61667°W | |
| Location | Cathedral Place, Limerick, Ireland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | https://www.limerickcathedral.com/ |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Consecrated | June 1894 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic revival |
| Years built | 1856–1882 |
| Groundbreaking | 1 May 1856 |
| Completed | 1882 |
| Specifications | |
| Tower height | 81 m (266 ft) |
| Materials | limestone, |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Cathedral |
| Diocese | Limerick |
| Province | Cashel and Emly |
St. John's Cathedral (which is Ardeaglais Naomh Eoin in Irish) is a big Roman Catholic church in Limerick, Ireland. A cathedral is the main church for a bishop. This beautiful building was designed by an architect named Philip Charles Hardwick.
Work on the cathedral started in 1857. The very first church service, called a Mass, happened on March 7, 1859. St. John's Cathedral took the place of an older, smaller church that was built in 1753.
Contents
Building St. John's Cathedral
How the Cathedral Was Designed
An English architect, Philip Charles Hardwick, was chosen to design St. John's Cathedral. He worked on the plans between 1855 and 1861. Hardwick was also working on another important building nearby, called Adare Manor, at the same time.
Laying the Foundation Stone
The first stone for the cathedral was put in place on May 1, 1856. This is called the "foundation stone." The main part of the building was ready for services in 1859, but it wasn't fully finished until July 1861.
Who Built It?
Patrick Kenna was in charge of building the first part of the cathedral. Later, Thomas Byrne took over the job of building the tall tower and spire. He started this work in 1879.
Delays and Completion
Building the tower had a small problem. A storm in September 1882 caused some damage and slowed things down. After the inside of the church was made even more beautiful, the cathedral was officially blessed on June 21, 1894. Cardinal Logue led this special event.
What Remains from the Past?
Many original parts of the cathedral are still there today. These include the wooden seats (pews), special plaques (memorials), confessionals (small rooms for confession), and the floor tiles. The Bishop's special chair, called a cathedra, was made in Germany in 1894, but it is no longer in the cathedral.
The Look of St. John's Cathedral
Gothic Revival Style
The architect, Philip Charles Hardwick, learned a lot from another famous architect, Augustus Pugin. This influence can be seen in the cathedral's style, which is called Gothic Revival. This style brings back the look of medieval Gothic churches.
The Tower and Spire
The tower and spire of the cathedral were built between 1879 and 1883. M.A. Hennessy changed Hardwick's original drawings for the tower. Hennessy added an extra 105 feet to the height, making it even taller! The outside of the building is made from local limestone.
Outside Details
The cathedral's outside look has been called "severe." This means it doesn't have many fancy decorations. There is only one statue on the front of the building. However, the tower and spire have more detailed designs and decorations.
Inside the Cathedral
The inside of the cathedral has been updated a few times. Between 1893 and 1894, Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer made changes to the main altar area. This work was done by Walter Doolin and Messrs Ryan from Limerick. Later, the inside was changed again to fit new rules from the Vatican II.
The Altar
The main altar is made from special Limerick marble. It has a beautiful carving that shows a story from the Bible about Abraham's sacrifice.
Keeping the Cathedral Strong
Recent Repairs
The most recent big repair work on St. John's Cathedral happened in 2003 and 2004. Workers fixed the roof and the outside stonework to keep the building in good shape.
Tallest Spire?
For a long time, people thought St. John's Cathedral had the tallest spire in Ireland. They believed it was 94 meters (308 feet) tall. However, a newer measurement showed it is actually 81 meters (266 feet) tall. This means it is shorter than the spire of St. Colman's Cathedral in Cobh.
Images for kids
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St John's Cathedral in Limerick.
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This stone remembers when the cathedral was built and fixed up.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Juan (Limerick) para niños
