09.07.2019
St Michan’s Mummies Receive Visitors Again as Crypt Reopens After Theft
The 800 year old mummy known as the ‘Crusader’ is back on display in Dublin. The crypt housing the mummies at St Michan’s Church, Church Street, reopened to the public this morning (Wednesday 9 July 2019). The crypt had been closed since the end of February following a break–in in which the head of the Crusader was stolen along with another skull.
The head was later recovered by Gardaí after reports of the theft prompted outcry around the world. In association with the National Museum of Ireland it has been undergoing meticulous restoration work gradually drying out the head and bringing it back close to the condition it had been in. It and the skull were reinstated in the crypt last week.
Before the official reopening, the Vicar of the Christ Church Cathedral Group of Parishes of which St Michan’s is part, Archdeacon David Pierpoint, spoke to representatives of the media. He thanked the Gardaí, the National Museum of Ireland and the media for the publicity which he believed was partly responsible for the return of the head. He also thanked Nichols’ Undertakers for providing the new coffins for the remains.
About €30,000 in revenue had been lost over the last five months, the Archdeacon said, adding that it was not about money but having the Crusader back in his final resting place.
Following the break–in Archdeacon Pierpoint and curate, the Revd Ross Styles, did interviews with news outlets around the world. They received letters and some donations from far and wide including Russia and China.
However, the news struck the people of the local area most. “The local community have been brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Archdeacon Pierpoint stated. “They’ve played a huge part in all of this. They’re very vigilant now and keep an eye on the place. The people of the city as a whole will be very pleased that everything here is back as it should be.”
Apart from the Crusader, the crypt is home to the mummified remains of the ‘Thief’ and a man who is reputed to have been buried alive along with other remains whose origins are unknown. The 400 year old remains of a nun are also housed in the crypt. The nun’s remains were severely damaged during the break–in and have now been placed in a closed coffin.
The Revd Ross Styles said they were all relieved that the head and skull were returned. “We were terrified that we wouldn’t get the head back. That’s what really upset us and the community here because it’s a place of worship, it’s sanctified ground and the fact that this act of desecration had occurred and that human remains had been taken was upsetting. We don’t tamper with the vaults. We replaced the remains but we don’t tamper with them and the fact that the remains were disturbed upset the congregation, it upset me and it upset the Archdeacon.” he commented.
“It’s part of the city of Dublin and it’s great to have the head back and people can see the Crusader again. [The vaults] have been open for nearly 100 years so it’s part of the fabric of the city. It’s the history of not only this parish but of the wider city. We cannot thank the Garda Síochána enough for their work on all this,” he added.
There are several vaults under St Michan’s. Two have been open to the public since the 1920s. The ambient temperature in the crypt is about 14 degrees all year round and the limestone walls create a very dry atmosphere. These conditions, along with its proximity to Oxmantown Marsh, are attributed to the preservation of the remains.
The crypt was broken into over the weekend of February 23/24. Both archbishops of Dublin, Archbishop Michael Jackson and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, visited the crypt in the wake of the break in and appealed to those responsible to examine their consciences. Following information received, Gardaí from the Bridewell Station recovered both the Crusader’s head and the skull on March 5. President Michael D Higgins visited St Michan’s on April 10. The crypt was reconsecrated by Archbishop Michael Jackson on April 11 with prayers so that those who had lain there for centuries could once again be at rest.
Since March, in conjunction with the National Museum, the head of The Crusader has been undergoing restoration. Nichols undertakers have provided new coffins and re–coffined the mummified remains. Increased security measures have been put in place at St Michan’s.