St. Mark's Church, Dublin

St. Mark's Church is Dublin-based, Pentecostal church belonging to Christian Churches Ireland, the Irish branch of the Assemblies of God denomination. It was previously a Church of Ireland parish church. It is on 42A Pearse Street, Dublin 2, east of Trinity College.[2] The church has three Sunday services; 10am, 11:45am and 1:30pm.

St. Mark's Church
St. Mark's Church
St. Mark's Church
LocationPearse St., Dublin
CountryIreland
DenominationChristian Churches Ireland[1]
Previous denominationChurch of Ireland
Websitewww.stmarks.ie
History
Founded25 April 1757
Founder(s)Charles Cobbe
DedicationSt. Mark the Evangelist
Architecture
Heritage designationProtected
Completed1757

The church

The church is a large building surrounded by a grassy churchyard, and was erected in 1729 [3] off what was then Great Brunswick St. (now Pearse St.). It was consecrated by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Charles Cobbe, on St Mark's day (25 April) 1757.

The presence of the adjoining railway viaduct detracts from the beauty of the church and its setting.

St. Mark's closed in 1971. Its contents were distributed throughout the Church of Ireland, and the parish records were transferred to the Representative Church Body. After its closure the building was purchased by Trinity College, Dublin which used it occasionally for exams and lectures.

The church was purchased by the Family Worship Centre, a Pentecostal assembly, in 1987, renovated, and re-opened as a place of worship.[4]

The parish

The parish was cut off from that of St. Andrew by Act of Parliament in 1707.[5] It corresponded to the civil parish of the same name.

The churchyard

The church was surrounded on three sides by a churchyard which contained a large number of graves. In the 18th and early 19th centuries it was a favourite target of body snatchers, owing to its proximity to Trinity College, which taught medicine. A wall was built around the churchyard to try to prevent access. In 1892-3 the wall was removed and a railing substituted.[5]

Parishioners

Perhaps the most celebrated person associated with St. Marks is Oscar Wilde, who was baptised in the church.[6] Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor is a member of the congregation.[7]

References and sources
Notes
  1. http://ccireland.ie/ourchurches/
  2. Wright
  3. Maurice Craig,Dublin 1660-1860, p.324
  4. Church web-site
  5. Cosgrave
  6. St Ann's Church website
  7. "Katie Taylor and other Olympians speak openly of their faith". Ci News. 8 August 2012. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2012. Katie is a born-again Christian who regularly attends St Mark's Pentecostal Church on Dublin's Pearse Street.
Sources
  • Gilbert, John (1854). A History of the City of Dublin. Oxford: Oxford University.
  • George Newenham Wright (2005). "An Historical Guide to the City of Dublin". Online book. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
  • Craig, Maurice (1969). Dublin: 1660–1860. Dublin: Allen Figgis.
  • Cosgrave, Ephraim McDowel; Strangways, L.R. (1908). A Dictionary of Dublin (2nd Edition). Dublin: Sealy, Bryers and Walkers.
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