Our History
History of the Confraternity
The confraternity of St. Andrew’s shares part of an extensive history which can be traced back to the 1530's. It was circa 1539 that a Dominican Father, Thomas Stella, established the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament at the Dominican Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Italy.
St. Ignatius of Loyola was one of its earliest members. The confraternity of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva was conferred with an honorary title of archconfraternity and thus, received numerous indulgences and privileges by the Bull of 30 Nov., 1539. As the confraternity in St. Andrew’s Church is a direct branch of its roman counterpart in enjoys the privilege of a share in the indulgences of the archconfraternity.
Confraternities along with sodalities are primarily a medieval phenomenon. Although aspects of such societies can be identified prior to the middle ages it was during this time that the full vigour of devotion societies is articulated. These emerging societies asserted the idea that the devout life was achievable to all men and women, regardless of their status in society and that long hours spent on prayer, penance and fasting was not necessary to achieve devoutness. A combination of accessible public and private prayer alongside the fulfilment of good works or charity became the pathway to a devout life. St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) captures this synergy between charity and devotion as follows “devotion is the sweetest of all things and the queen of virtue because it is the perfection of charity”.
St. Francis de Sales became a central and popular author for Dublin Catholics circa 1730s. With new advances in the printing industry the dissemination of devotional literature was both possible and prolific. Indeed, by the end of the 1800s’ St. Francis’s “Introduction to devout life” was one of the most popular printed books in Dublin. Availability of devotional literature, such as that by St. Francis de Sales, sustained and nurtured confraternities thus; there emerged numerous lay confraternities in Dublin during this era. Religious confraternities were key factors in the evolution of catholic culture in Dublin in the period before Catholic Emancipation. Following emancipation, the Irish population experienced a famine. During this period (1845-1852) only 30-40% of the population identified themselves as Catholic with a significant number unaware of the teachings of the Catholic faith. In response to this two Irish priest Paul Cullen and John Hughes commenced a “devotional revolution” circa 1850s’. It is in this revolutionary context the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament is established at St. Andrew’s Church, Westland Row.
History of St Andrew's Parish
The foundation stone for this wonderfully historic church was laid on 30th April 1832. The church was blessed and opened in 1834 and finally completed in 1843 at a cost of £20, 348 3s 6d.
Some of the most renowned architects of that era were involved in the constructed of this church such as James Bolger, the main architect who adapted the original plans drafted by John Leeson. These architects contributed to some of the most familiar and historically significant buildings in Dublin such as the Pro-Cathedral (Leeson), and the General Post Office/Custom House.
Previously situated in Townsend Street (1750-1834) the move of St. Andrew’s Church to Westland Row came shortly after the Catholic Emancipation Bill of 1829. It was “The Emancipator” himself, Daniel O’Connell who procured the site in Westland Row and had a significant role in the raising of funds to ensure the completion of the church. It is perhaps then not surprising to discover that St. Andrew’s Church is distinctive and unique as it was the first, and at that time the largest, catholic church to be built on a main thoroughfare. There is an anecdotal suggestion that this was made possible as the plans approved for the building of St. Andrew’s Church on Westland Row showed the front entrance of the church being in Cumberland Street but this front entrance was reversed on actual construction!
Further to catholic emancipation the Westland Row parish experiences a prolific surge of religious congregations including the installation of the Christian Brothers in the school at Westland Row (circa 1845). It was in this school, under the Christian Brothers, that the brothers Padraig and Willie Pearse were educated (circa 1890). Some of Ireland's most notable national figures lived within the parish boundaries, just taking the period 1840 – 1900 if you lived on Merrion Square you lived beside Daniel O’Connell (circa 1847), Sir Philip Crampton, Surgeon General (circa 1858), Sir William Stokes, President of Royal College Physicians (circa 1866), Dr Robert Graves (circa 1866), Dr Dominic Corrigan (circa1860s) and the Wilde Family (circa 1855).
The parish baptismal records dating from 1742 include those of Thomas Moore, Brendan Behan and Kevin Barry. Frequent visitors to this church included Maud Gonne, Daniel O’Connell, Countess Markievicz, William MacBride and James Joyce.
In fact, Joyce immortalised this church in his most celebrated work Ulysses. In this literary work St. Andrew’s church is referred to as the church of All Hallows a local name given to St. Andrew’s due to it’s close proximity to the priory of All Hallows the current day Trinity College.
A theme of excellence permeates the essence of this church manifested by the artworks housed within the church such as sculptures by John Hogan, and paintings by Daniel Maclise and Alfred Elmore all considered excellent in their fields circa 1840 – 1900. The organ in Westland Row is the only existing organ in Ireland to contain such a large number of Cavaille – Coll pipes demonstrating a unique example of the finest fusion of Irish and French craftsmanship.
Most of all St. Andrew’s is a church of its parishioners; those who reside in the parish, those who pass by, those who have settled in Ireland and the numerous diaspora to whom St. Andrew’s is a connection to home.