The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Christ Church was built on a site of Christian worship which dates back to 1050 and probably before.

The first church on this site was built in the 11th Century, probably around the time the previously pagan Vikings had become Christian and had affiliated themselves to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

By 1210 the Normans had taken over Waterford and they built a new Gothic Cathedral in 1210.
However by the 18th Century, the progressive City Corporation of the time regarded this Gothic Cathedral as being very old fashioned and recommended to the Bishop that a new one should be constructed.

It is said that Bishop Chenevix was none to happy with the idea so a little ruse had to be used to 'help' him change his mind. Some potential builders had arranged for rubble to fall in the Bishops path as he walked through the Church, sufficiently close to give him a shock or two!

After a couple of narrow escapes Chenevix decided that a new Cathedral was a must.

In 1773 the Norman Gothic Cathedral came down, and the present Cathedral was begun in 1773 and was completed in 1779 at a total cost of £5,397. This new building which is the present cathedral has been described as the finest 18th century ecclesiastical building in Ireland (by Mark Girouard, a noted architectural historian).

(adapted from http://www.christchurchwaterford.org/history.html)

Other Churches in Waterford Cathedral Group

Waterford gained its notoriety in the eighth century when the Vikings settled on a site known as Port Láirge (Irish for Waterford), but soon changed it to Vadrafjord.
Dunmore East is a very picturesque fishing village, which can be reached by taking the N25 out of Waterford City and heading towards Tramore. Dunmore in Irish means ‘Big Fort'. Among Dunmore's attractions are the Adventure Centre at Stoney Cove, and the several gourmet restaurants in the area which serve freshly caught fish.

Dunhill is situated off the R675 on the coast at Annestown, County Waterford. The town's name is derived from the Irish translation of ‘The fort of the rock.’ The ruins of Dunhill castle, which was destroyed by Cromwell in 1649, lie nearby.

Tramore, situated 10 Miles from Waterford City and 35 miles from Dungarvan, is one of Ireland's most popular seaside resorts. The town, which has an off season population of approximately 6000 people, was home to the famous sculptor John Edward Carey.

Attractions include the town's wonderful sandy beaches, and its indoor arcades and amusements.

The Cathedral has its own excellent web site which gives a lot more information. Click here

Contact Details

Waterford Cathedral Web Site: Click here