16.06.2026
Celebration of Light and Artistry as Cathedral Windows Rededicated
Eighteen of Christ Church Cathedral’s historic clerestory windows have been restored to their former glory and were rededicated by the Archbishop of Dublin on Sunday afternoon (June 14).
Members of the cathedral chapter and board, community and friends were joined by Cllr David Coffey, representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Evensong, sung by the Cathedral Choir, was followed by a celebratory reception.
The clerestory windows on the cathedral’s south side were in a perilous condition. As with almost all the stained glass windows in Christ Church, they date from the 1871–78 restoration by George Edmond Street. Their refurbishment is the beginning of an ambitious restoration programme leading up to Christ Church’s millennium in 2028.
The Street designed windows were made by James Bell from his stained glass workshop at 98 Russell Street in London. They feature the heraldic arms of the dioceses of the Church of Ireland (25 of them at that time) among others.
Introducing the service, Archbishop Michael Jackson noted that in “a new and special way the light from outside the cathedral will shine through that beautiful and coloured glass into the life that happens within the cathedral”.
The sermon was preached by Canon Dr Adrian Empey who said the history of the clerestory windows were a reflection of the forces that were transforming Europe in the 12th Century.
He gave an insight into the oftentimes bitterly contested world of Christian art, including stained glass, in churches. The iconoclastic controversies that raged through the Byzantine Empire in the eighth and ninth centuries resulted in the “wholesale destruction” of centuries of Christian art, he said. He compared this to today’s culture wars, offering the example of the “de–Trumping” of the Kennedy Cultural Centre in Washington.
He highlighted the connections between people such as the French abbot Suger and his reconstruction of the Basilica of Saint–Denis, pioneering the Gothic architecture style, and the explosion of stained glass art, both of which occurred contemporaneously with the reconstruction of Christ Church Cathedral by the Anglo Normans.
These developments took place in the context of dramatic change in Feudal Europe and can be said to be in response to them, he explained. “So much was going on in the 12th century – the emerging universities, the impact of reform on the church, the vitality of urban life and trade and much else in what amounted to the laying of the foundations of modern Europe and Western civilisation. So, in a very real sense, the clerestory windows are a reflection of the forces that were transforming Europe at that time,” he concluded.
Speaking after the service, Dean Dermot Dunne said during his 18 years in the cathedral he often sat in trepidation if there was a wind howling outside “because you never knew if a pane, or even a whole window, was going to blow in on top of us”. Their restoration, which had once been cost prohibitive, had been enabled by increased tourist activity in Dublin, the development of good governance at the cathedral, the appointment of the current CEO and the work of the dedicated board. He paid tribute to Dublin City Council, whose Historic Structures Grant contributed to the work.
Cllr David Coffey outlined the careful restoration of the windows and their stone surroundings, which he said Dublin City Council is proud to support. “Christ Church Cathedral is central to Dublin’s civic and cultural life and has been for centuries. It has marked time with its bells and inspired Dublin’s citizens through its outstanding choirs… It remains a spiritual and community hub and stands proudly at the top of Dame Street, an oasis of calm in this bustling city. As we approach the cathedral’s millennium we are delighted to be a partner in preserving its legacy,” he stated.
Archbishop Michael Jackson observed that most people would never see the intricacy of the work that had been carried out on the clerestory windows. He described Christ Church as being “the mother church of the dioceses, as well as in many ways the affectionate mother of the city of Dublin”. He congratulated all of those who had shown the greatest of care and craft in their work and thanked all involved in raising funds for their generosity and cooperation. He said this is only the slip road to addressing an “almost unimaginable figure” which, if broken down into bite sized pieces, becomes attainable.
“Your generosity is essential if the cathedral is to continue to be a place of heritage, a place of worship, and a place of dynamic response, outreach and invitation. That combination of response, outreach and invitation give a new opportunity for belonging,” he said encouraging everyone to become part of the tapestry of the continuing restoration of Christ Church Cathedral.
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