Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (Irish: Ard-Eaglais Naomh Pádraig) in Dublin, Ireland, founded in 1191, is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. With its 43-metre (141 ft) spire, St Patrick’s is the tallest church (not Cathedral) in Ireland and the largest.

On the other hand, Christ Church Cathedral, also a Church of Ireland cathedral in Dublin, is designated as the local Cathedral of the diocese of Dublin and Glendalough.

Unusually, St Patrick’s is not the seat of a bishop, as the Archbishop of Dublin has his seat in Christ Church Cathedral.

Since 1870, the Church of Ireland has designated St Patrick’s as the national cathedral for the whole of Ireland, drawing chapter members from each of the twelve dioceses of the Church of Ireland.

The dean is The Ordinary for the cathedral. For instance, this office exists since 1219.

The most famous office holder was Jonathan Swift.

The cathedral is just 10 minutes’ walk from Dublin Citi H๏τel.

As the largest cathedral, and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Ireland, Saint Patrick’s has been at the heart of Dublin and Ireland’s history and culture for over 800 years. Our story is a microcosm of the story of Ireland. Take a look at our timeline to learn more about the development of the Cathedral and the fascinating characters who make our story what it is today.

Present

The cathedral is the location for a number of public national ceremonies. Ireland’s Remembrance Day ceremonies, hosted by the Royal British Legion and attended by the President of Ireland, take place there every November. Its carol service (the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols), celebrated twice in December, including every 24 December, is a colourful feature of Dublin life.

On Saturdays in autumn the cathedral hosts over twelve ceremonies at which new graduates of Dublin Insтιтute of Technology receive their degrees.

The funerals of two Irish presidents, Douglas Hyde and Erskine Hamilton Childers, took place there in 1949 and 1974 respectively. At President Hyde’s funeral, the whole of the Irish government and opposition contingent, but for Noel Browne and Erskine Childers, stayed in the foyer of the church.

This was because, at the time of the funeral, the Holy See forbade Roman Catholics from entering the churches of other Christian traditions. clarification needed Because President Erskine Childers died in office in 1974, his state funeral was a major state occasion.

The attendance included foreign dignitaries King Baudouin of the Belgians, the Vice-President of the United States (Spiro T. Agnew representing President Nixon), Earl Mountbatten of Burma (representing Queen Elizabeth), British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and former British prime minister Edward Heath.