- Dublin's only "real cathedral" is also one of the oldest buildings in the city.
- Architectural gem despite renovations - many medieval parts remain.
- Christ Church Cathedral has a rare (for Ireland) crypt filled with interesting artifacts.
- Developments in the vicinity have not always been sympathetic.
- Originally the site of a Viking cathedral, Christ Church was started in 1172.
- Used as a cathedral of the Anglican Church of Ireland since Henry VIII's time.
- Crypt was used as a wine cellar by local merchants and publicans in the 16th century.
- Last Catholic Mass was said in honor of James II in 1689 - a brief period of Catholicism re-emerging.
- Christ Church Cathedral was rebuilt between 1871 and 1878 with funds supplied by the distiller Henry Roe.
Taking in Christ Church Cathedral in its full is not easy - the areas surrounding the old church have been built up to facilitate the modern city, not the visitor. The vista from the south is very dependent on traffic and often marred by the same. Maybe the best view can be had from the Liffey, just beside the modern council offices. This would have been the view sailors had when docking in medieval Dublin.
The church itself was built to impress by Saint Laurence O'Toole from 1172 onwards - raised on the remains of an earlier Viking church it was to be the symbol of re-emerging Irish rule. This is somehow contrary to the treasures Christ Church Cathedral holds, many actually connected to the Anglo-Normans and English. Apart from the heart of Saint Laurence O'Toole it also contains the tomb of Strongbow and some silver presented by William III after the Battle of the Boyne.
If you visit Christ Church Cathedral make a point to get down into the undercroft, a rare thing in Ireland generally and the largest in Ireland and England. It also is huge and contains a number of interesting exhibits - down to the disused statues of former kings.
