St Munchin's Church

The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following details about St. Munchin's Church of Ireland Church; 'Situated in the north-west angle of the English Town. Although traditionally regarded as founded by Mainchin himself in the fifth century it is more likely to have been established in the tenth or eleventh centuries as a Christian church within the Hiberno-Scandinavian town. The tradition that it was used as a cathedral by the Limerick Ostmen is unfounded. The church is listed among Limerick in the inquisition of 1200-1 (MacCaffrey 1907, 26, 28) and is mentioned in the ordinance of Bishop Donatus O’Brien (1204-6) as one of the diocesan prebends (ibid., 116, 179n). On his death in 1445 Geoffrey Galwey left 6s. 8d. to St Munchin’s (Westropp 1898, 122-3). The Hardiman map shows the church as a building with aisle, side chapel and tower. The present building dates from 1827' (Bradley et. al. 1985, 328).

In 1827 the following details were recorded; 'St. Munchins Church is said to have been founded in the seventh century, by St. Munchin, the first Bishop of Limerick. It was rebuilt by the Danes after their conversion to Christianity, and continued to be the cathedral of the city till after the erection of St. Mary's, when it was converted into a parish church. We have no guide, with respect to its subsequent history, until the commencement of the last century, when we find (in 1711,) the church received some additions and repairs, under the superintendence of Bishop Smyth. It was further improved by the exertions of his family, and in 1752, a gallery was erected at the West end, at the expense of the officers of Col. Aldercron's and Sir Peter Halket's regiments, (the 39th and 44th.) It having been found necessary to rebuild this church, the

Rev. John Duddell, the present worthy incumbent, has made considerable exertions for that purpose. The Board of First Fruits have granted a sum of money towards the building, which has already considerably advanced—the remainder is to be made up by voluntary contributions, and we trust, that the citizens of Limerick will liberally assist in edifying their oldest church in a manner conformable to the modern taste for neatness and convenience in public buildings.

The site of the church, at the northern extremity of the city, is extremely agreeable: the churchyard, which is 630 feet in circumference, over hangs the Shannon, having the old town wall for its northern boundary, along which is a pleasant elevated terrace-walk, commanding a view of Thomond bridge, the river, and the county of Clare. The old church was a plain building, eighty-six feet in length, by twenty-three in breadth, and destitute of any object of interest, except a fine monument on the south-side of the communion table, over the family vault of Bishop Smyth. St. Munchin's is one of the prebendaries in the gift of the Bishop. It is an entire Rectory, partly in the city, and partly in the county of the city, and united to the Rectories of Kellconygayn, and the Rectory and Vicarage of Killonehan, the whole benefice being valued in the King's books at £2. 13s. 4d. In the parish of St. Munchin there is a glebe house and garden. Killonehan contains 1157 acres, and has a glebe of five acres and a-half, on which are the ruins of an old church. The population of St. Munchin's parish is 3550' (Fitzgerald 1827, 556-8).

Westropp gives the following details; 'Parish and Prebend. It is reputed to be the oldest church in Limerick ; and its foundation is attributed to St. Mainchin, son of Sedna, son of Cass (king, 400), who was cousin of Cairthin Finn, the first Christian king, and lived c. 480-500. It was used by the Christianised Ostmen as a cathedral. " Ecc. Sci. Manchini," 1201 ; numerous deeds relate to it. Fabric - It has been rebuilt on many occasions; the present church only dates from 1827. The Hardiman map shows the church as a building with aisle, side chapel, and tower. Monuments - Elinor, daughter of Thomas Young, 1649; Thomas Smith, 1711; Major James Buchanan, 1778. In 1680 Dyneley says that the church was of no interest, save for the monuments of W. Brenagh, 1594, and Jane Smyth, 1679. Description - Fitzgerald, vol. ii,, p. 556' (Westropp 1904-5, 357-8).

Present building described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as following; 'Detached four-bay Board of the First Fruits Church of Ireland Church, built in 1827, with a square-plan tower to the west elevation, and entrance porch northeast corner. Built on the site of a previous church. Church grounds situated on an outcrop overlooking the Shannon River to the west, and Villiers Alms Houses to the north. Site enclosed by rubble limestone walls with square-plan piers and wrought-iron gates. Pointed-arch pedestrian access from Castle Street with wrought-iron gates leads to grounds via narrow lane. Numerous recumbent stone grave markers and table-tombs of eighteenth and nineteenth century origins. Fine funerary monuments and mausoleums also therein. Saint Munchin's forms a well-proportioned, though standard, Board of the First Fruits Church constructed by James Pain who was the architect to the Board for the Munster region. The Board was set up in 1813 and disbanded in 1834. A single-celled church was originally built on this site. The location of this fine church overlooking the River Shannon, contributes to the ensemble of historic buildings which includes Thomond Bridge, the toll house, and King John's Castle ' (www.buildingsofireland.ie; Reg. No. 21508007).