Saints Peter and Paul's Church, Cork

Saints Peter and Paul's Church is a Catholic church located on Carey's Lane in Cork City, Ireland.

Ss. Peter & Paul's Church
Saints Peter and Paul's Church, Cork
Eaglais Naoimh Peadar agus Pól
Portal at Saint Peter and Paul's Place
Ss. Peter & Paul's Church is located in Cork Central
Ss. Peter & Paul's Church
Ss. Peter & Paul's Church
51°53′56″N 8°28′28″W / 51.898809°N 8.474461°W / 51.898809; -8.474461
LocationSaint Peter and Paul's Place, Cork
CountryIreland
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitesaintspeterandpauls.ie
History
StatusIn use
DedicationSaint Peter and Saint Paul
ConsecratedAugust 1874
Architecture
Architect(s)E. W. Pugin and George Ashlin
Architectural typeChurch
StyleGothic Revival
Groundbreaking15 August 1859
Completed1866
Administration
ArchdioceseCashel and Emly
DioceseCork and Ross
ParishSS Peter & Paul's
The nave of SS Peter and Paul's, shown in The Illustrated London News.

History

edit

Peter and Paul's was built to replace Carey's Lane Chapel, a much smaller structure built in 1786.[1]

Under the guidance of Archdeacon John Murphy, a design competition was run in the 1850s and won by E. W. Pugin, son of Augustus Pugin. The foundation stone was laid on 15 August 1859.[2] Though the construction of the church was completed in on 29 June 1864, and the public were granted the opportunity to view the interior of the church at this time, the church was unable to open as the debts associated with its construction had not yet been paid off.[3] Exactly two years after the church first welcomed members of the public to enter, it was dedicated for worship on 29 June 1866.[4][5]

Between 1939 and 1962, the roof of the building was renewed, and the baptistry was repaired.[6]

In the 1980s the building underwent major renovations.[6]

Architecture

edit
 
Interior with stained glass

The church comprises a central nave with gable roof and two aisles. The walls are of red sandstone with limestone dressing. The aisles are at either side of the nave, which is covered with a gable roof. The ridge of the roof is decorated by ornamental ironwork, partly gilt, terminated at the western gable by an ornamental cross with foliated arms.[citation needed]

The grand altar is carved from 36 tons of Carrara marble. The pavements surrounding the altar, and the steps, are all of white Italian vein marble. The apse is decorated with blue and gold ceiling panels. The flooring of the church is in white and black marble.[citation needed]

The pulpit and confessionals were carved from Russian oak by craftsmen from Leuven and Cork.[citation needed]

References

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Lenihan 2013, p. 186-187.
  2. ^ "Pugin and Saints Peter and Paul's | Saints Peter and Paul's Church". Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  3. ^ O'Callaghan 2016, p. 112-113.
  4. ^ McCarthy, Kieran. "Making a City: St. Patrick's Street Heritage Trail". corkheritage.ie. Kieran McCarthy. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  5. ^ "SS Peter & Paul's Church | Cork Past & Present". www.corkpastandpresent.ie. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b O'Callaghan 2016, p. 116.

Sources

edit
  • Lenihan, Michael (2013). Timeless Cork. Cork: Mercier Press. pp. 186–187. ISBN 978-1-78117-168-4.
  • O'Callaghan, Antóin (2016). The Churches of Cork City: An Illustrated History. Dublin: The History Press Ireland. pp. 106–117. ISBN 978-1-84588-893-0.
edit