Christ Church Cathedral

Detached nine-bay double-height neo-Classical Church of Ireland Cathedral, built 1773 – 1779, comprising eight-bay double-height nave with single-bay double-height chancel to east, and single-bay four-stage entrance tower to west on a square plan with pedimented tetrastyle portico to first stage, polygonal spire over, and single-bay double-height flanking end bays. Renovated, 1891, with openings blocked-up to ground floor and interior remodelled. Undergoing extensive renovation, 2003. Hipped slate roofs with clay ridge tiles, and cast-iron rainwater goods on moulded cut-limestone eaves. Limestone ashlar polygonal spire to tower with banding, and wrought iron cross finial to apex. Painted rendered, ruled and lined walls to nave and to chancel with cut-limestone quoins to corners, profiled limestone ashlar band to first floor level, and moulded cut-limestone band to eaves. Walls to entrance (west) front not visible behind scaffolding. Limestone ashlar walls to tower with cut-limestone dressings including pedimented panel to second stage having cast-iron clock face, round-headed recessed niche to third stage on balustraded apron with pediment over on Ionic columns, engaged Ionic columns to corners, and engaged and freestanding Corinthian columns to fourth stage on moulded cornice with profiled frieze over. Camber-headed blind openings to ground floor to nave and to chancel (originally open and remodelled, 1891) with cut-limestone block-and-start surrounds. Round-headed window openings to first floor with cut-limestone sill course, block-and-start surrounds, and fixed-pane timber windows with Gothicised heads (paired round-headed openings to one opening to nave with cut-limestone mullion having oculus over, and fixed-pane leaded stained glass fittings; 8/12 timber sash windows to chancel). Round-headed door opening to tower under prostyle tetrastyle pedimented portico with timber panelled double doors having Gothicised fanlight. Diocletian window opening to second stage with moulded cut-limestone archivolt, and fixed-pane timber fittings. Round-headed opening to fourth (bell) stage with cut-limestone surround and mullion, and louvered timber panel fittings. Full-height interior remodelled, 1891, (original timber galleries removed) with cut-sandstone round arch into nave having timber pipe organ, c.1820, on raised balcony, diagonal-tiled marble floor, carved timber pews, arcade to side aisles with Corinthian columns on polished pink marble pedestals, coved ceiling with decorative plasterwork, timber panelled wainscoting and groin vaulted ceilings to side aisles with foliate plasterwork, and Classical-style reredos to chancel. Set back from line of roads in own square with landscaped grounds to site.