St John's Priory, Kilkenny facts for kids
| Mainistir Sheáin | |
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 Location in Ireland
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| Monastery information | |
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| Other names | St John's Priory without the walls The Lantern of Ireland |
| Order | Canons Regular (Augustinians) |
| Established | 1212 (as Church of Ireland: 1817 |
| Disestablished | 1691 |
| Diocese | Diocese of Cashel and Ossory (Formerly Ossory) |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Active |
| Style | Late Gothic |
| Site | |
| Location | John Street, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny |
| Coordinates | 52°39′14″N 7°14′54″W / 52.653848°N 7.248448°W |
| Public access | Yes |
| Official name | St John's Abbey (Kilkenny) |
| Reference no. | 344 & 331 |
St. John's Abbey, also known as St John's Priory, is a very old monastery in Kilkenny City, Ireland. It was built by a group of religious people called Canons Regular (Augustinians). Today, it is an important historical site, known as a National Monument. Part of the Abbey, called the Lady Chapel, is still used as a church today.
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Where is St. John's Abbey?
St. John's Abbey is located on the east side of the River Nore. You can find it where Michael Street and John Street meet in Kilkenny City.
A Look Back in Time: The Abbey's History
Even before the year 1200, the Augustinians had a religious house on John Street. In 1211, a powerful person named William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke gave land to build the Priory of St. John the Evangelist. This was the start of the Abbey we see today.
The first Mass (a church service) was held in the Priory in 1220. Around 1227, the Augustinians were given more churches in a place called New Ross. The beautiful Lady Chapel was finished in 1290. Sadly, the bell-tower of the Abbey fell down in 1329.
In 1331, the leader (Prior) and the people living at Saint John’s were put in prison. Later, between 1361 and 1405, the Prior, Walter Walsh, had serious problems with the Bishop of Ossory. The Bishop even stopped church services at the Priory for a while.
In 1540, a big change happened in Ireland called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when many monasteries were closed down by the government. St. John's Abbey was then given to the city of Kilkenny.
During a time of war in Ireland (1642–52), the Abbey was given to another religious group. In 1645, a leader named Cardinal Giovanni Battista Rinuccini helped open the Priory for the Jesuits. However, they had to leave in 1650.
After another war, called the Williamite War, both groups were forced out. The Abbey then became a ruin, meaning it fell apart.
Around 1780, the main part of the Chapel, its towers, and other buildings were taken down. The stones were used to build a military barracks nearby.
In 1817, the Lady Chapel, which was still standing, was fixed up. It got a new roof and became a parish church for the Church of Ireland. An architect named William Robertson helped with this work. A new tower was also added at this time. This part of the Abbey is still used as a church today, with services every Sunday.
What the Buildings Look Like
The Lady Chapel of St. John's was famous for its many stained glass windows. People even called it the "Lantern of Ireland" because it had so much light coming through its five tall, narrow windows on the south side.
Today, you can still see the roofless remains of the old church's main area. It has a large window with seven sections. Inside these ruins, you can find old tombs from the Middle Ages. One tomb belongs to a couple named Purcell from the 1500s. It has carvings of the Crucifixion and the Apostles. The statue of the lady on the tomb wears a long dress and a special horned hat.
Images for kids
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1791 drawing of the Abbey
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St. John's Priory as designed by Robertson
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Inside view of St. John's Abbey, looking north
