ST MARY OF THE ANGELS, CHURCH ST., DUBLIN.

The Capuchins arrived in this area of Dublin's Northside inner city around 1689 and shortly after built a  'Mass House' where the present church stands.  It was enlarged in 1796 and became the 'Church Street Chapel'.  The 'penal chapel' was replaced with the laying of the foundation stone of the present church (laid by Cardinal Cullen) in 1868 and it was finished in 1881.  This church was designed by James J. McCarthy and is built in the revived decorated Gothic style.  It is one of the most beautifully designed churches in Dublin.  The ceiling resembles an inverted ship and gives the roof a very steep pitch so much so that snow slides off!  I have also heard it claimed it was built so high so that the smell from the congregation had somewhere to go.  Many of them were from the tenements around Church Street and worked, those that could get work, in the fish markers, soap factory etc.