History of the Parish of St. George and St. Thomas

The present parish of St. George and St. Thomas covers a geographical area roughly from O'Connell Bridge east to Commons Road and north to Phibsborough. The reason for this is that the current parish incorporates many other parishes which over the years were closed.

Beginning at the northern end of the parish, the parish Church of St. Augustine was situated on the North Circular Road close to MOuntjoy Prison. For some years it served as the church for the female penitentiary. In 1911 it became part of St. George's Parish and was then closed for worship some years later. The building has been demolished.

St. Aidan's Church was situated on the Drumcondra Road. It was consecrated in 1902 as a Chapel of Ease to St. George's to serve the increasing population of that residential district. The building was built to accommodate 400 people. Less than a century later, in 1962m the church was closed and demolished and a new rectory for St George's parish erected on the site.

St George's, Hardwicke Place is a distinctive Georgian Building, mentioned in literature including James Joyce's "Ulysses". The building was designed by the architect Francis Johnston and consecrated in 1814. It was a fine building and was the place of worship for the many wealthy people who lived in the Georgian Squares and Streeets of the area. However, decline in the population of the area, meant that the congregation also declined and it became apparent that the number of people who belonged to the church could no longer sustain the building. The final service was held in St George's on 29th April 1990. The fine bells were removed to Taney Parish Church. The building is used as a venue for bands and entertainment.

The Free Church was built in 1800 as a Methodist Chapel but was bought by the Church of Ireland and consecrated in 1828. The founders agreed that "The Free Church should not be a Parish Church or a Chapel of Ease to any Parish Church, but that it should continue ion and free to all descriptions of persons inhabitants of Dublin, during the time of Divine Service, especially for the accommodation of the poorer classes do inhabitants with liberty of entering therein and occupying the seats and pews". Again declining numbers meant that the congregation could no longer sustain a large building and the church was closed in 1988. It is appropriate that the Pavee Point organisation which works with travellers now uses the building and so in a different way the ideals of the founders are still being met.

Trinity Church, Lower Gardiner Street was built in 1838 and is still a landmark close to the railway bridge. However, the life of the building as a church was short lived and it was closed in 1916. Most recently it was used as a social welfare office, but a Christian Group has now obtained the building and once again it will function as a place of worship.

St. Thomas' Church is now Parish Church of St. George and St. Thomas. Consecrated in 1931 it replaced the earlier St Thomas's destroyed in the Civil War. It is a small interesting building in the heart of the city and the committed congregation hopes that it will continue to thrive and grow in the 21st Century.