Re: Re: Developments in Cork

@jungle wrote:

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned here is that the city council are considering handing over Christ Church (former city records office) to the Triskel for use as a perfromance space.

I don’t know if this would be in addition to their current premises or would involve them moving out of there with that location coming onto the market.

Christ Church, South Main St

Background:
There has been a church on the site of Christ Church (also called Holy Trinity) since the 12th century though the present building dates from 1725. It was one of two principal churches in the city, during that time, the other being Saint Peter’s on North Main St (now the Cork Vision Centre). It was closely associated with the Corporation of the city and regular civic functions were held there. There were chapels attached to both Churches where chantry priests said masses for the repose of the souls of the dead. It is believed that the poet Edmund Spenser married Elizabeth Boyle in Christ Church in 1594.

After the Siege of Cork (1690) many of the medieval parish churches were rebuilt and modernised. The current building at Christ Church was built c 1725 and Its design is tentatively ascribed to John Coltsman a master stonemason who also is believed to have built the present South Gate Bridge. It was estimated that the church cost £5,328 and was said at the time by antiquarian Charles Smith that the “The body of this church is capable of containing 3000 people, with good pews and galleries, and is all built of hewn stone”. It was remodelled in c1828 and again in 1878. This church contains a vaulted crypt of archaeological importance, parts of which are believed to date back to medieval times. The graveyard associated with the church has some 16th and 17th century cross slabs and gravemarkers.

The Church is adjacent to Christ Church Lane is one of the oldest lanes in Cork and is clearly visible on the oldest-known map of Cork dating from 1545. This was the location of Christ Church national school (originally build in 1742) which stood opposite the burial grounds.

Designations:
Christ Church, South Main Street (including surrounding graveyard) is a Protected structure and is listed on the Record of Protected Structures (PS329). It is also highlighted on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (Reg. No. 20514004). This NIAH survey describes Christ Church as “significant in its own right for the quality and design of the structure, for the attached graveyard to the rear of the building, and also for the importance of the site in the development of Cork city.

Christ Church and its associated graveyard are also Recorded Monuments (RMP CO 074:3408 & CO074:3409, Inventory No 5805& 5813)

Architectural Features:
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) survey describes Christ Church as an imposing ashlar faced church in a classical style. Interesting architectural features include the ionic portico to the west facade. The windows have round headed openings with cills to the upper floor (six over six panes) and square headed window openings with cills to the ground floor (nine over six panes). The three rounded headed entrance openings have timber paneled doors. The south elevation has limestone ashlar to the lower half of the wall with oval windows with stained glass and metal grilles above.
Current Status
Christ Church was one of the principal Anglican centers of worship in the inner city. However dwindling numbers of parishioners forced its closure and the building became the home of the Cork City and County Archives Dept. The Archives Dept moved to a purpose built new building in 2006 and the building is currently not in use.