Christ Church Cathedral In Dublin: History, Tour + Handy Info

Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin was founded by Viking King Sitric Silkenbeard in the early 11th century. Fast forward 900+ years and the cathedral is one of Dublin’s most impressive landmarks.

A stone’s throw from many of Dublin’s other must-see spots, like Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, it’s easy to dive into Dublin’s rich history without venturing far.

While the city is brimming with historical treasures, few places can rival the fascinating past of Christ Church (book tickets here).

Some quick need-to-knows about Christ Church Cathedral

Although a visit to Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

Note: if you book a tour through a link below we may make a commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.

1. Location

Christ Church Cathedral can be found on Christchurch Place, just south of the Liffey in central Dublin. Its handsome Gothic nave is easy to spot and lies next door to another famous Dublin attraction, Dublinia.

2. Opening hours

The Christ Church Cathedral opening hours are:

• Monday + Tuesday: 09:00-18:30
• Wednesday to Saturday: 09:00-18:30
• Sunday: 12:30-18:30

3. Admission

You can buy self-guided skip-the-line Christ Church Cathedral tickets right here (handy if you’re only spending 24 hours in Dublin and you’re stuck for time!).

4. Part of the Dublin Pass

Exploring Dublin over 1 or 2 days? If you buy a Dublin Pass you can save from €23.50 to €62.50 on Dublin’s top attractions, like the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Distillery (info here).

The history of Christ Church Cathedral

Founded by Dúnán, the first bishop of Dublin and Sitriuc, Norse king of Dublin, the earliest manuscript dates Christ Church Cathedral to its present location at around 1030.

Built on high ground overlooking the Viking settlement at Wood Quay, the original edifice would have been a wooden structure and Christ Church was one of just two churches for the whole city.

Future saint Laurence O’Toole took over as Archbishop of Dublin in 1162 and began a reform of the cathedral’s constitution along European lines (and laid the foundation stone for the next cathedral).

Life under the Normans

In 1172, the cathedral was rebuilt as a stone structure, largely under the impetus of Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke (better known as Strongbow), the Anglo-Norman noble who invaded Ireland in 1170.

Now resembling the structure we see today, Christ Church competed for supremacy with nearby St Patrick’s Cathedral.

An agreement was arranged between the two cathedrals in 1300 by Richard de Ferings, Archbishop of Dublin.

The Pacis Compostio acknowledged both as cathedrals and made some provisions to accommodate their shared status. In 1493 the famous choir school was founded.

Reformation

Changes came in the 16th century when Henry VIII famously broke from Rome and chartered his own path.

He dissolved the Augustinian priory of the Holy Trinity and established a reformed foundation of secular canons, as well as converting the priory to a cathedral with a dean and chapter.

The break from Rome was made ever clearer when in 1551, divine service was sung for the first time in Ireland in English instead of Latin. And then later in 1560, the Bible was first read in English.

19th and 20th centuries

By the 19th century, Christ Church and its sister cathedral St Patrick’s, were both in very poor condition and almost derelict.

Thankfully the cathedral was extensively renovated and rebuilt between 1871 and 1878 by George Edmund Street, with the sponsorship of the distiller Henry Roe of Mount Anville.

A two-year renovation of the cathedral roof and stonework took place in 1982, further restoring Christ Church’s grandeur and helping form its lasting appeal today.

What you’ll see at Christ Church Cathedral

One of the reasons that you’ll often hear Christ Church Cathedral described as one of the best places to visit in Dublin is due to the sheer number of things there is to see and do.

Below, you’ll hear all about The Crypt and the World Record Bells (yes, ‘World Record’!) to the architecture and much more (grab your entry ticket here in advance).

1. The Crypt and Treasures of Christ Church

At 63 metres long, Christ Church’s medieval crypt is the largest of its kind in Ireland or Britain and houses some stunning historical artefacts.

Of particular note is a beautiful royal plate given by King William III in 1697 as a thanksgiving for his victory at the battle of the Boyne.

The Treasury also displays a rare 14th-century copy of the Magna Carta Hiberniae.

One of the more bizarre ‘treasures’ features a glass display case housing a mummified cat in the act of chasing a mummified rat, frozen mid-pursuit inside an organ pipe from the 1860s.

2. The World Record Bells

If there’s one thing Christ Church isn’t short on, it’s bells.

While bell ringing has been a part of life at the cathedral since its inception, it’s unlikely anyone back then would have thought Christ Church would be setting any records for its bells.

With the addition of seven new bells in 1999 in preparation for the Millenium celebrations, Christ Church brought its total number of swinging bells to 19 – the world’s highest number of change-ringing bells.

3. Outstanding architecture

From vulnerable wooden beginnings, Christ Church turned into a far more formidable stone structure in 1172.

However, it must be admitted that thanks to the cathedral’s descent into disrepair, what you see today is mostly the result of George Street’s Victorian restorations.

For a glimpse into the distant past, however, check out the Romanesque doorway on the gable of the southern transept that dates all the way back to the 12th century.

The crypt is the cathedral’s oldest surviving part, while the eye-catching flying buttresses are probably its most impressive external feature.

Things to do nearby

One of the beauties of the Christ Church Cathedral tour is that, when you’ve finished, you’re a short walk away from many of the best things to do in Dublin.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from the Cathedral:

1. Dublinia (2-minute walk): Dublinia is an interactive museum where you’ll be able to travel back in time to experience Dublin’s Viking past
2. Dublin Castle (5-minute walk): A fascinating place the seat of British power in Ireland until it was handed over to Michael Collins in 1922
3. The Brazen Head (10-minute walk): Dating to 1198, the Brazen Head is the oldest of the many pubs in Dublin
4. Itineraries: Follow my favourite itineraries for spending one day in Dublin, 2 days in Dublin or 3 days in Dublin