A modest proposal for St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral

Pope should revoke ancient designation of Christ Church as Dublin’s cathedral

Frank McDonald

Massgoers leaving the Pro Cathedral: “Even though Christ Church has been in possession of the Anglican church for nearly 500 years, it is still viewed by the Roman Catholic Church as the primary official Dublin cathedral, since it was so designated by the pope at the request of the then Archbishop of Dublin, Saint Laurence O’Toole, in the [late] 12th century.” Photograph: Bryan O’Brien

Massgoers leaving the Pro Cathedral: “Even though Christ Church has been in possession of the Anglican church for nearly 500 years, it is still viewed by the Roman Catholic Church as the primary official Dublin cathedral, since it was so designated by the pope at the request of the then Archbishop of Dublin, Saint Laurence O’Toole, in the [late] 12th century.” Photograph: Bryan O’Brien

With a year to go before we mark the quincentennial, on October 31st, 2017, of Martin Luther nailing his demands for reform to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, the time has surely come to settle a historical anomaly unresolved for the past 200 years – the inherently “temporary” status of St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Dublin.

Built on the corner of Marlborough Street and Elephant Lane (now Cathedral Street) – because Catholics were not permitted under the Penal Laws to erect churches on any main street in Ireland– it was designed by George Papworth in the Greek Revival style and officially opened with a celebratory Mass in November 1825, just four years before Catholic Emancipation.

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