Dublin hidden gem churches, Ireland religious building, Irish architecture design

Discover Dublin’s Hidden Gem Churches

24 December 2024

Built in 1190, St. Audoen’s Church, located near the Liffey in Cornmarket, is the oldest preserved church in Dublin. While most of Dublin’s medieval churches have been torn down and rebuilt afresh, St. Audoen’s retains most of its original architectural features — which makes it a truly remarkable historical landmark. Despite this, the church remains one of Dublin’s hidden gems, often overshadowed by bigger, more well-known attractions. In addition to St. Audeon’s, the city’s also home to other lesser-known churches like St. Michan’s and Newman University Church, which offer plenty more architectural features and historical insights you won’t want to miss.

St. Audoen’s: Dublin’s oldest preserved church

From the outside, St. Audoen’s looks unmistakably medieval with its prominent, three-story bell tower. Fascinatingly, the limestone walls that form the tower and wider church are the originals, and have survived through eight centuries up to today. The tower houses six bells, three of which are the oldest church bells not just in Ireland, but the world. The bells in question were installed in 1423, and all six are still rung on a weekly basis, which carries on a 600-year tradition. The church’s large Romanesque Norman door is also the original, made from Dundry stone. The same goes for the interior baptismal font — it’s over 800 years old and made from the same material.

St. Audoen’s further stands out due to its unique mix of medieval and Neo-Gothic architecture. This is because medieval architecture became popular again during the 19th century. In the 1840s, new woodwork, a carved timber pulpit, and pews were added inside the church, complete with Gothic arches that reflect the resurgence in the Gothic architectural style. During the medieval period, St. Audeon’s was the single most important church in Dublin. Today, however, attractions like Christ Church Cathedral, an architectural gem in its own right, tend to overshadow the old church. Christ Church Cathedral was built in the 12th century, and is just a short three-minute walk from St. Audeon’s. Both sites are definitely worth a visit.

St. Michan’s Church: founded by the Vikings

Founded in 1095 by the Danes, St. Michan’s Church (located on Church Street) was originally a wooden structure used by the Viking’s who were ostracized from the inner city. The church then underwent a complete rebuild in 1686, which now makes the battlement tower the oldest part of the church, erected in the fifteenth century. The exterior architectural style is fairly simple with Finglas and Rathgar limestone walls, but the 24-foot-tall chancel window certainly stands out with its majestic Gothic style. Inside also remains virtually untouched since a remodel in the 19th century. The large pipe organ installed in 1724 is the church’s most popular attraction — it’s actually the largest still in use in Ireland. Handel is thought to have first played the Messiah on this very instrument.

Newman University Church champions Byzantine Revival architecture

Although Newman University Church is over 150 years old and one of the city’s most beautiful examples of Byzantine Revival architecture, it’s somewhat easy to miss. The church is hidden away in the middle of a street next to Saint Stephen’s Green. But, once you do spot it, you’ll see the church entrance is quite unusual: the door’s sandwiched between two short, white columns on both sides, each with cushion capitals that depict evangelists and angels. There’s also a Romanesque red-and-black brick arch above the door, as well as an ornamental belfry adorned with a cross.

The church was founded in 1855 by churchman John Henry Newman for the Catholic University of Ireland. What makes this building particularly unique is its blend of Christian architectural styles from both the West and East. Its design very much borrows from basilica architecture that was popular in continental Europe at the time. This was an intentional choice by architect John Hungerford Pollen as Newman wasn’t a fan of Gothic architecture. In particular, the church is rectangle-shaped and has a flat ceiling, which mimics a Roman ballista. Throughout, you’ll also spot classic Irish decor — such as, Irish marble in various colors on the walls.

Dublin has no shortage of hidden gem churches just waiting to be discovered. Each of these historic attractions are bound to thrill architecture lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

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