A Happy Find...St. Audoen's Church

One of the happy finds was on the second time that I went around in a circle. I thought that I was heading back toward the park by my B&B (I wanted to see the National Museum) but I of course I lost my direction and went in a circle. I somehow ended up walking in the opposite direction from where I wanted to go and walked across the Ha’penny Bridge (I didn't know it at the time or I would have taken pictures). When I realized that I was not where I wanted to be, I walked back over the river, got my bearings and started again. I began walking down towards St. Patricks’ and ran into St. Audoen's Church.

St. Audoen's has the distinction of being the only medieval parish church, retaining any original features, still in use within the city of Dublin. It is dedicated to St. Audoen or, in the French version, Ouen, the 7th century bishop of Rouen and patron saint of Normandy.  It was originally built between the years 1181 - 1212 and it was located in the commercial and industrial heart of medieval Dublin and it became an institution of civil and ecclesiastical life in the city. It was during this time that the Guild of At. Anne was established in 1430 in St. Audeon's

 

This blur is the seal of St. Anne's Guild and this is a drawing of what the blur should look like

 

In 1430, King Henry VI authorized the establishment of a chantry, which is a fund established by donors to pay for a priest to celebrate sung Masses for a specified purpose (generally for the soul of the deceased donor to gain a speedier remission of punishment for sins committed). Chantries were usually endowed with land given by the donors, the income from which maintained the chantry priest. What made these churches so unique was that a chantry chapel was built on private land or a in a dedicated area within a greater church, built especially for these celebrated Masses that were sung not only when they died, but also on their anniversaries. St. Audoen's added St. Anne's Chapel and the Portlester chapel to contain the overflow and allow for extra religious festivals and blessings.

 St. Anne's Chapel

At its heyday, the church was closely connected with the Guilds of the city and "was accounted the best in Dublin for the greater number of Aldermen and Worships of the city living in the Parish". The Tanners and Bakers' Guilds were among some of the many Guilds that were associated with St. Anne's Guild

The coat of arms for the Guilds that were assoicated with St. Anne's

 

The Portlester chapel ruin constitutes a portion of the ancient church.  The present church exhibits the architectural peculiarities of the 14th and 15th centuries. It originally consisted of a double aisle, separated by six massive octagonal columns, supporting gothic or pointed arches; but the present church only occupies a fourth of the original edifice, the remainder being in complete ruin.

Extension of the south aisle and site of the Portlester Chapel, 15th century. St. Audoen's Church, Dublin, Ireland.

  

This parish church was eminently distinguished for its ancient monumental remains, few of which, however, have survived. Amongst these, one particularly deserving of attention lies near the east end of the south aisle. It is a handsome table monument, of black marble, bearing the recumbent effigies of a knight in armor, and his lady, and is still remarkably perfect. The Portlester Tomb, now lying under the bell tower of Saint Audoen’s Church, is a superb piece of commemorative sculpture. It is one of very few medieval sculptures in Dublin to survive intact into the modern day.

My poor picture taking skills are showing

Here is a better one (not of my taking)

Close up of their faces

 

This tomb was erected in the year 1455 for Sir Roland Fitz-Eustace, Baron Portlester, in the County of Kildare, He successively filled the important offices of Deputy, under the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland, of George, Duke of Clarence, the brother of Edward the Fourth -- then of Lord Chancellor -- and lastly, High Treasurer of the Kingdom, which place he held for no less a period than 38 years. He was ennobled under the title of Baron of Portlester, by Edward the Fourth, in 1462. He died in the year 1496, and was interred in the Franciscan Abbey Church of New Abbey, in the county of Kildare, which he had himself founded, and in which there is a similar monument to his memory, and that of his lady, the daughter of Jenico d'Artois.

The tomb in St. Audeon's Church bears on the margin the following inscription in the black letter or gothic character:

"Orate pro anima Rolandi Fitz Eustace de
Portlester, qui hunc locum sive rapellum dedit, in
honorem beatae Mariae Virginis, etiam pro anima
Margaritae uroris suae, et pro animabus omnium
fidelium defunctorum."

I have to say that this was my favorite church. Not only was it free (major points) but the musem documented its history really well and you could walk around freely and see everything. It was a very good find.