St. Michan’s Church / m ɪ ʃ ən / located in Church Street, Dublin, Ireland, is a Protestant church Anglican Communion. The first Christian chapel on the site is from 1095, and served as a Catholic church to the Reformation. [3] The current church dates from 1686, and has served the Church of Ireland church members in Dublin for more than 300 years.

Building

Built on the site of an early Nordic chapel from 1095, is the current structure largely from a reconstruction carried out under William Robinson 1686, [3]but is still the only parish church on the north side of the Liffey surviving from a Viking foundation.

While the exterior of the church may be unimpressive, the interior has some fine woodwork and an organ (dated 1724) that Handel is said to have composed his Messiah. [4]

Vault

The vault in St. Michan’s contains unique many mummified remains. [2] The walls of the vault contains limestone, which has kept air dry, which creates ideal conditions for preservation. [5] Among the preserved remains of 400-year-old body of a nun, a six and- a-half-foot man popularly believed to have been a crusader, a body with their feet and right hand chopped off, and Sheares brothers Henry and John-who participated in the 1798 uprising. The various holders of the title Earl of Leitrim is also buried here. [6]

The church and the vault is open for tours on Saturdays, and season on some weekdays. As an active place of worship, however, the church closed on Sundays for the visitors. [4]

Organ

The organ, built around 1940 by Evans and Barr in Belfast, [ citation needed ] is housed in organ case eighteenth-century designed by John Baptiste Cuvillie between 1723-1725. [7] The three manual pneumatic console uses modern compass and playing dimensions yet been pressed into the space originally occupied by the much narrower keyboard. [ citation needed ] the Swell division has a slider soundboard, with separate pneumatic for action; Large and Choir divisions served by spools less valve chests. [ Citation needed ] Stop Action is pneumatic whole. [ Citation needed ]

In front of the gallery’s Body Trophy, a carved piece depicting 17 musical instruments and was installed in 1724. [7] It is generally believed that George Frideric Handel practiced well before the first performance of Messiah in this body. [7] [8]

ceremonies

Michaelmas term and legal year, opened with a service in St. Michan’s Church every October. [ Citation needed ] It is frequented by members of the Irish Bar and Law Society, and is similar to the British equivalent service at Westminster Abbey. [ Context? ]

References

  1. Jump up ^ “Brief History of St. Michan’s Church Halston Street “(PDF).Capuchin Friar part. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  2. ^ Jump up to: ab “mummies St. Michan s “. Ireland for the visitors.Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  3. ^ Jump up to: ab “St. Michan – About us – History – The origins of the church and the congregation. ” StMichans.com (official site). Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  4. ^ Jump up to: ab “St. Michan’s Church.” Site Christ Church Cathedral churches. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  5. Jump up ^ “Waking the Dead: mummies St. Michan’s Church, Dublin.”Blather.net. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  6. Jump up ^ George Newenham Wright (2005). “A historical guide to the city of Dublin.” Online book. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  7. ^ Jump up to: abc “St. Michan’s Church bodies”. The site of St Michan’s.Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  8. Jump up ^ Horatio Townsend (1852). An account of the visit of Trade to Dublin. McGlashan. pp. 96th