European Literary Trails 2003 - Christ Church Cathedral

Our next and final stop in Ireland was Dublin.

The sites we visited in and around Dublin are listed in pink at left.

Click on them for more information and pictures.

We had some time for sightseeing and Erik, Alicia and I went to the Christ Church Cathedral. The following information about Christ Church comes from a pamphlet I picked up in the church. The header reads, "A cathedral of the Church of Ireland and part of the Anglican Communion." Viking Dublin's Cathedral was what originally stood on this site, but the present cathedral dates from 1186 when it was re-built by archbishop John Cumin. You will pay an admission fee to explore the church, but it is in the form of a donation...and it's not optional no matter what your denomination may be or how old you are. There is even a student rate: € 2 for students and the unemployed and € 5 for working adults.

Christ Church Cathedral - Dublin, Ireland

There are many things to see in Christ Church, so plan to spend over an hour if you want to see everything. Sights include The Baptistry, the Nave Tombs, the various chapels, the crypts, and various other monuments, statues, and relics. The Great Nave is 68 feel high and is in the early Gothic style. We did go down into the crypts area which contained many monuments and statues and apparently a room of historical artifacts and a documentary film that we missed because it was nearly closing time.

Great Nave of Christ Church

The crypts of Christ Church

We arrived not long before closing time, so we were kind of rushed to view everything. My favorite part was The Peace Chapel of St. Laud. Every day at noon two minute prayers are said for world peace. They have a large peace candle and guests are invited to light a candle and say a prayer. It was a beautiful arrangement.

Candles at Christ Church

Candle for world peace at Christ Church