OVERVIEW
St. Paul's (Church of Ireland) can be located on Paul Street and adjacent to the Paul Street Shopping Centre in the city of Cork. Built during
the years 1723 and 1726, this two-story church was designed to seat 600 persons. Its first divine service was held on 9 October 1726. In 1926 the
Church was united to Holy Trinity Church, the incumbents of which looked after it until it was decommissioned and closed in 1949. The property was
acquired by Guy & Co. in the late 1950's and occupied the site until 1997 when it became vacant. Rockfell Investments Ltd., the current owners, are
redeveloping the site as part of a retail development that they call the Cornmarket Centre. As of May 2010, the first floor of the Church, used as
a warehouse, is filled high with boxes and is undergoing interior renovations. The ground floor, a big room, is empty. Entrances to the crypt in
the basement have been bricked in. The Cork City Council granted planning permission in 2004 (T.P. 04/27987) for this large development.
Entrance to St. Paul's Church, Cork.
Some west facing headstones can be
seen through the iron gate. May 2010.
(Courtesy of Mary Leonard-Walsh)
Click to enlarge the photo.
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East wall of St. Paul's Church on left, facing
St. Paul's Ave. with St. Ann's Shandon
in the distance. May 2010.
(Courtesy of Mary Leonard-Walsh)
Click to enlarge the photo.
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The former church and graveyard are listed in the Record of Monuments and Places (CO074-35001 and CO074-35002) as well as in the Record of Protected
Structures (PS279). The Record of Monuments and Places is a list of known monuments and places of archaeological interest as outlined by the National
Monuments Service (NMS), Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It was added to the RPS in 2000 for architectural reasons.
According to the Planning Act of 2000, Architectural interest is attributed to a structure of good quality architectural design. The design of the
exterior or interior may be the work of a distinguished, known designer. It may be an exemplar of a building type, plan form, style, or may make an
important positive contribution to its setting (e.g. a streetscape or group of buildings in an urban area or in the landscape in a rural area).
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St. Paul's Church: East side gable wall
and window. May 2010.
(Courtesy of Mary Leonard-Walsh)
Click to enlarge the photo.
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North side, St. Paul's Church taken from St. Paul's Avenue. The Cornmarket Centre and TX Max abuts the Church. May 2010.
(Courtesy of Mary Leonard-Walsh)
Click to enlarge the photo.
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The parish of St. Paul's was never the biggest, nor the wealthiest in Cork. Nor was the Church building seen as a highlight of town beauty. However,
the interior of the church, with its decorated stucco ceiling and stained glass windows, has been noted positively as its features. The stained
glass windows are no longer visible. Along with the churchyard and headstones, which today sadly lean against the inside of the perimeter stonewalls
on both Paul Street and St. Paul's Avenue, St. Paul's holds a place of considerable significance to the descendants of its parishioners and of those
interred.
Quote from 'The Ancient and Present State of the County and City of Cork' by Charles Smith, edited by Robert Day and W.A. Copinger, Cork, 1893, p.337:
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'St. Paul's: The church of St. Paul was built by a subscription of the parishioners; the ground on which it stands was granted by the Corporation to
the late Bishop Brown, May 14, 1723, and divine service was, for the first time, celebrated therein by the Rev. Edward Sampson, October the 9th, 1726.
By an Act for the union and division of parishes, &c., the East Marsh, belonging to St. Mary, Shandon, and Dunscomb's Marsh, in the parish of Christ
Church, were, by the consent of the respective Incumbents, made one entire parish, called the parish of St. Paul, which, by a valuation on houses,
affords a suitable maintenance for an Incumbent. This is a neat well-built church, with a carved gallery at the west end, and other parallel galleries;
also, a handsome plain altar-piece, and a double range of pews well laid out; and the whole is lightsome, and regularly disposed.'
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Entrance Gate - St. Paul's Church, October 2009
(Courtesy of John Walsh)
Click to enlarge the photo.
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The notice posted on the left hand gatepost is a planning notice dated 17-09-09 of intent to build a 'fixed stainless steel canopy incorporating
signage above the entrance to the premises on St. Paul's Ave'.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Pat Bullen.
Ciara Brett - Archaeologist, Planning and Development Directorate, Cork City Council.
Cornmarket Centre Management.
Carly Douglas - Assistant Librarian, Lambeth Palace Library.
Dr. Susan Hood - Assistant Librarian and Archivist / Publications Officer Representative Church Body.
Margaret Jordan.
Kae Lewis.
Mary Leonard-Walsh.
Niamh Twomey - Heritage Officer, Cork City Council.
John Walsh.
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ST PAUL'S BIBLIOGRAPHY
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