St. Mark's Church, Dublin
| St. Mark's Church | |
|---|---|
 St. Mark's Church | |
 | |
| Location | Pearse St., Dublin |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Pentecostal |
| Previous denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Website | www.stmarks.ie |
| History | |
| Founded | April 25, 1757 |
| Founder(s) | Charles Cobb |
| Dedication | St. Mark the Evangelist |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Protected |
| Completed | 1757 |
53°20′41.26″N 6°15′3.7″W / 53.3447944°N 6.251028°W St. Mark's Church is a Pentecostal church in Dublin, Ireland. It was previously a Church of Ireland parish church. It is located in Mark St., off Pearse Street, to the east of Trinity College.[1]
The church
The church is a large building surrounded by a grassy churchyard, and was erected in the 1750s off what was then Great Brunswick St. (now Pearse St.). It was consecrated by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Charles Cobb, on St Mark’s day (25 April) 1757.
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.[2]
The parish
The parish was cut off from that of St. Andrew by Act of Parliament in 1707.[3] 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.[3]
Parishioners
Perhaps the most celebrated person associated with St. Marks is Oscar Wilde, who was baptised in the church.[4] Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor is a member of the congregation.[5]
References and sources
- Notes
- ^ Wright
- ^ Church web-site
- ^ a b Cosgrave
- ^ St Ann's Church website
- ^ "Katie Taylor and other Olympians speak openly of their faith". Ci News. 8 August 2012. 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. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- 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.