Christ Church Cathedral Approaches 1000

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin’s oldest actively used building, has stood at the heart of the city for nearly a millennium. As a sacred space and one of Ireland’s top visitor attractions, the Cathedral has been an important part of Dublin’s fabric and an iconic presence on the city skyline.

The Cathedral is now preparing to celebrate a series of significant milestones in 2028, including its 1000th anniversary. In preparation for the Cathedral’s millennium, it’s Community is embarking on an ambitious plan to revitalise this historic building and prepare it for its second millennium. Over a five-year period, the Cathedral’s priorities include:

Enhancing the Cathedral’s Grounds:  Improved landscaping will create a welcoming and peaceful urban oasis, inspired by the calm and tranquillity associated with cloister gardens. Meanwhile the railings, erected in 1888, will be returned to their former glory, uplifting the streetscape and providing a fitting entrance to the Cathedral.

Enriching the Cathedral’s Fabric:  Essential conservation work and cleaning will focus on key aspects of the interior, safeguarding the beauty and structural integrity of the nearly 1,000-year-old landmark. A new lift will provide greater accessibility, allowing Christ Church to extend a true welcome to everyone.

Growing The Music Programme:  Long at the heart of Christ Church, the Cathedral now aims to expand its music outreach, offering more opportunities for schools and the wider community to engage with a rich choral tradition, which dates back to its monastic forebears.  By creating a music endowment – a fund that is invested and supports the Cathedral through its yearly earnings – it aims to secure a vital part of its offering for decades to come. A new organ will replace the current instrument. This will enable the continuation of a musical excellence and ignite a love of singing to the glory of God.

The cost of maintaining and enhancing a nearly 1,000-year-old building far exceeds day-to-day revenues and so the Cathedral is now exploring the potential of a fundraising campaign, and looking to engage parishioners, local businesses, visitors, and friends across Dublin and beyond.

The Cathedral is now inviting your feedback and direction on its funding priorities and strategies. You can find more details on Christ Church Cathedral and its Millennium plans at www.christchurchcathedral.ie.