Spare Cathedral up for grabs in Dublin

recedite

The running costs associated with maintaining two cathedrals seems to hurting the C of I finances. They are offering to share St. Patricks (only round the corner from Christchurch). One of them is supposed to be their cathedral for Dublin and one is for Ireland AFAIK, although there's probably not more than a handful of people at either one on a Sunday morning.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1025/1224306446635.html
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/c-of-is-invitation-to-mass-at-st-patricks-521823.html

Dean Robert MacCarthy has said that “whether we like it or not, we are now in a situation where the majority of Christians in Dublin and possibly in the State attend no place of worship. We all know some of the reasons why this is so and I for one regret it.
“But there may now be an opportunity to make St Patrick’s into a national cathedral not merely for the Church of Ireland but for all Irish Christians.

I wonder if they will consider sharing it with the majority of ("christians" ) who as he says himself, aren't interested in attending it as a place to worship his deity.
Any other ideas for the place? Its too big for a bookshop.... a concert hall perhaps?

swampgas

Sounds like Kylith might be interested:

kylith wrote: »

"Personally I like to imagine how I'd renovate the church into a house (I would love a bedroom on the choir balcony and a reading room in a bell tower)."

I wonder if the new property tax will have exemptions for churches? Like I need to ask ...

there is/was a converted church for rent as a house on daft.ie at some stage. looked nice and all, well refurnished and done up

recedite

This is one big ass church though.

Sarky

I went to a restaurant in Donegal near Buncrana that was a converted church. Really classy look for a restaurant, they should do that with the cathedral.

robindch

recedite wrote: »

Any other ideas for the place? Its too big for a bookshop.... a concert hall perhaps?

Public library during the day and concert-hall at night -- there's a cracking good Willis organ in St Pat's, as well as at least one first-rate organist, and I'd hate to see either lost.

CiaranMT

The Jesuit's old building on O' Connell Ave. in Limerick is also up for sale. Talk of the library moving in there but it would take too long to kit out, and there's f-all money down these parts to do it.

Galvasean

Is that Church bar on the top of Jervis St. actually a renovated church? It's quite a nice (if pricey!) spot for having beer.

Peregrinus

Galvasean wrote: »

Is that Church bar on the top of Jervis St. actually a renovated church? It's quite a nice (if pricey!) spot for having beer.

Yes, it was St. Mary's Church, and it was in use as a church until quite recently. Closed about 1990, if I recall correctly. It was Church of Ireland, but it its later years I think the lent it to Dublin's tiny Greek Orthodox community. They had to move when the building became unsafe, and they didn't have the funds to sort it out.

Arthur Guiness was married there, so perhaps becoming a pub isn't a bad end for it.

zico10

What became of another Dublin church;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFe41uvBq2I

sbsquarepants

Galvasean wrote: »

Is that Church bar on the top of Jervis St. actually a renovated church? It's quite a nice (if pricey!) spot for having beer.

Yea, it's cool inside. Last time i was in there it was belting down snow outside which made it even better!
Patricks would be a great spot for a pub or restaurant, not that they'd go for anything like that, but it would certainly be cool and i reckon the tourists would go mad for it.

kylith

swampgas wrote: »

Sounds like Kylith might be interested:


I wonder if the new property tax will have exemptions for churches? Like I need to ask ...

Jebus, I'd love to, that building has some fantastic bits. I'd have to at least hang a sheet over what has to be the ugliest monument in the country though.


My mother would have a conniption if I moved in there "But you're an atheist, Kylith, why would you want to live in a church?" "So that I can deconsecrate the hell out of it, Mother Dear."

Be great if they included the park too...

The Mad Hatter

Churches can make great concert halls. There's a converted church by the Clarion Hotel in Sligo that I've heard a couple of concerts in (and played in one) and the acoustics are warm and even. Mind you, I've also heard a couple of concerts in churches with woeful acoustics, so it depends.

The Quadratic Equation

You could use it to start a local branch of this :

http://firstchurchofatheism.com/

They also have vacancies for "Atheist Ministers" in all areas, and are seeking donations to open their first church.

Sarky

That's so last season. At this stage I'd set the only person on this threw who thinks atheism issue a religion is you.

Get with the times. Or at least put more effort into trolling.

The Quadratic Equation

Sarky wrote: »

That's so last season..

Get with the times.

You can tell them that yourself, though I doubt they will be too pleased.

Galvasean

The Quadratic Equation wrote: »

You can tell them that yourself, though I doubt they will be too pleased.

There was a thread on that very subject here not too long ago. IIRC most of the regulars here thought it was a silly idea.

Sarky

It's a fairly typical pattern, no? Something gets rubbished here, then a few months later religious posters barge in pointing to the old link shouting "A-HA!" J C does it, like, all the time.

The Quadratic Equation

Sarky wrote: »

It's a fairly typical pattern, no? Something gets rubbished here, then a few months later religious posters barge in pointing to the old link shouting "A-HA!" J C does it, like, all the time.

I don't believe in their position, you may not believe in their position, but they clearly do. They have, and are promoting atheist ministers and are collecting for an atheist Church, surely a former church would be perfect for them ?

robindch

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

Churches can make great concert halls.

The acoustic in Pat's Cathedral is first class -- warm, long and just right for the distinctly English organ there. Compare and contrast with the dismal nothing in the NCH and the weak, underpowered organ there.

CiaranMT

The Quadratic Equation wrote: »

I don't believe in their position, you may not believe in their position, but they clearly do. They have, and are promoting atheist ministers and are collecting for an atheist Church, surely a former church would be perfect for them ?

But don't we all hate and fear your god(s)?

Surely we'd just burn them down?

The Mad Hatter

robindch wrote: »

The acoustic in Pat's Cathedral is first class -- warm, long and just right for the distinctly English organ there. Compare and contrast with the dismal nothing in the NCH and the weak, underpowered organ there.

I actually quite like the acoustic in the NCH. Haven't heard any solo organ concerts there, though.

The Quadratic Equation

CiaranMT wrote: »

But don't we all hate and fear your god(s)?

Surely we'd just burn them down?

I don't think you understand the first Church of athiesm, they don't believe in God, but they are collecting funds to buy their own church building. You can donate through PayPal

http://firstchurchofatheism.com/

CiaranMT

The Quadratic Equation wrote: »

I don't think you understand the first Church of athiesm, they don't believe in God, but they are collecting funds to buy their own church building. You can donate through PayPal

http://firstchurchofatheism.com/

recedite

robindch wrote: »

NCH and the weak, underpowered organ there.

Drop a few Viagra pills down the barrel and shout "fire in the hole"