St Matthew’s church was founded in 1704 because a dramatic growth of population and prosperity in Dublin and its primitive port at Ringsend had brought a population surge to this area. The narrow peninsula of Ringsend was already congested with buildings, so the church was built about 300 metres to the south, now called Irishtown.

The landscape was sand dunes and mud flats with scrubby trees and shrubs. The housing and other facilities were dreadful. Poverty was universal.

The church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. William King, decided to build a church for this rough, remote but rapidly-expanding port, which was busy not only with sailors and fishermen but with customs officers. He asked the government to pay for the church. It fell for his argument and subsidised the church, which is why it was called the Royal Chapel of St Matthew from that time until 1871.

A few years after St Matthew’s opened, Dublin Corporation paid to heighten the tower and add a pyramidal steeple as a navigation mark for ships on this dangerous coast (the steeple was later taken down).

In 1871 the Church of Ireland became an independent church, no longer controlled by any government (this was called ‘disestablisment’). The ‘royal chapel’ was turned into a normal parish with its own priest as rector and its own vestry, or self-governing body of lay people, to raise money, to help the poor, protect the building, and carry out the many and various functions of a Christian community.

In 1879 the church was expanded as the number of parishioners grew. It was nearly doubled in length, with a new sanctuary and choir at the east end. North and south transepts were added, so the church now has the shape of a cross. Old balconies were taken down and the organ moved from the balcony to the new choir. Capacity rose from about 350 to about 500 parishioners.

A memorial beside the altar is to those who lost their lives in World War I and is inscribed ‘Died fighting for God and right and liberty’, and not the previous style of ‘King and Country’. The 36 men named included eight members of the 17th company Boys Brigade, which was based in St Matthew’s.
In the last quarter of the twentieth century a parish room was built at the west end, using part of the nave near the tower.

St Matthew’s School has served the parish area since 1832. It is now in Cranfield Place, 200 metres from the church. It has recently been enlarged and the facilities updated.
Services are held every Sunday at 11.15 am in St Matthew’s.
Rector: Rev. Ted Ardis, 4 Ailesbury Grove, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. Tel. (01) 2692090
Organist: Mr John Shera, B.Mus., T.C.D.

Tercentenary Events
November 12th 8.00pm Tercentenary Music Recital, John Shera B.Mus. TCD.
November 21st 4.00pm Evening Prayer and Dedications, Preacher: Archbishop of Dublin
All Enquiries Phone: 692090/ 0872509047