Changes Revealed in documentary by Pat Larkin
By Niamh Byrne
A new short film by Pat Larkin tells the story of the refurbishment of St Matthew’s Church, Irishtown. The film starts with an invitation to enter this wonderful old church by the current Rector of St Matthews, the Reverend Leonard Ruddock. The film then proceeds to give us a tour of the newly restored church and introduces some of the people who made it happen.
The original church was built in 1704, extended in 1879, and had its first major refurbishment last year, in 2023. The extensive restoration saw the windows completely restored and cleaned, every single pane of glass taken out and reset in new lead. They now look splendid and are as good as the first day they went in. A new electrical system was also installed, and a new heating system, and the organ upgraded which included building a new sound system.
The church has its own unique touches to it, including a beautiful ornate floor which was designed by an Italian designer and made by a Dublin Mosaic Company. Another outstanding feature is a lectern made of solid brass standing on the altar. Resting on top of the lectern is an eagle symbolising the king of birds. The eagle flies the highest of all birds, so it literally flies ‘in the heavens’. On the back of the lectern is where the scripture rests and is read on Sundays. There are two chairs which came from St Mary’s of Donnybrook, now sadly closed, beautifully made and wonderfully ornate, and both bear the inscription Ecclesia Sancta Maria, which is Latin for St Mary’s Church.
John Shera is the organist in St Matthew’s and is an exceptionally talented organist. John tells of how he was taught as a boy in St Stephen’s Church, better known as the Pepper Canister. The organ is a magnificent work, it is really three organs in one with pipes extending to upstairs. Pre electricity days the bellows had to be pumped by hand, and there is a huge leaver which had to be manually pumped up and down all the way through the service. Now, in easier times, it is powered by a motor and a fan. We also get to see (and savour their wonderful sound) the tubular bells. These were made by Harringtons of Coventry, and are the first ones ever to appear in a church in Ireland.
Trevor James, a local historian, gives a pocket history of the church, explaining how it was extended in 1879 when the original edifice was deemed to be too small. During the recent refurbishment a new side chapel was created where it is possible to have smaller services. The vestry boasts a mosaic, a plaster casting, that tells the story of Abraham from the Old Testament.
The original tower was extended about 10 years after the church was built at the request of the Corporation, who paid for the work, which saw the tower being raised, and a little steeple added on with a weather vane on top. The purpose of the extension was to guide ships in the bay (remember St Matthew’s was much closer to the sea at that time) and seamen would use this to chart their course, which was very treacherous then as you can imagine.
The film includes a tour of the south crypt, which runs under the church and beneath the transept. When it was opened five coffins with remains were found, although who they are is unknown, but the bodies were all reinterred in the graveyard near the columbarium wall. There is another crypt known as the north crypt which hasn’t been opened for over 200 years, the entrance is blocked up so they haven’t been able, as of yet, to get inside.
A look around the cemetery uncovered many interesting graves. One being that of Sir James Foulds, who was sent to Ireland to put down the 1798 rebellion. He was one of the Court Martial Presidents and saved many lives by commuting their sentence to transportation. Also there is the grave of Fr Clinch, the first parish priest of this area. Fr Clinch was struck by an oar on the jaw and died very young, in his 20s. He was very well liked in the parish and the grave has a nice inscription telling of his good works. And another grave of note is that of Lundy Foot, a Dublin tobacconist, as well as his son, who was a magistrate, and not very well liked it seemed!
The film closes with the Reverend Ruddock giving a heartfelt welcome to everyone to come to St Matthew’s.
You can watch Pat Larkin’s excellent film at St Matthews Church Extended film 2024 YouTube, and learn more interesting facts about St Matthew’s Church and its heritage.
