Swift's Alley Free Church

Swift's Alley Free Church was an Episcopal Church of Ireland chapel in Swift's Alley and Francis Street, Dublin, Ireland.

History

In 1653, a Baptist meeting-house (the first in Ireland) was established by Thomas Patient[1] in Swift's Alley, Dublin,[2] the essayist and baptist John Foster preached there in 1795 as the congregation dwindled. In 1835, it was sold, and an Episcopal Chapel was established, the church was officially consecrated in 1843 by the Church of Ireland. The church had a Sunday school and fellowship society.

There had been an independent church/meeting house, Plunket Street Meeting House, near by in Plunket Street (now Dillon Street), where many evangelical preachers preached.

In 1840 the trustees put the chapel under the visitation and clergy officiate under licence from the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin.[3]

Rev. Dr. Tresham Dames Gregg DD was appointed chaplain of the church in 1837,[4][5] the Rev. Edward Perry Brooke, Rev. Thomas C. Skipton, Rev. George Hare and Rev. Henry Vere White also served as chaplains to the chapel.

The church building was sold, and has been used for a variety of uses including as a factory.[6]

References
  1. The Early Irish Baptists Evangelical Times.
  2. 'Baptists in Ireland - A Condensed History of the General Baptists of the New Connexion.' By James Hurford Wood.
  3. 'The Church of England Magazine - Clergymen of the United Church of England and Ireland', Volume 8, January–June, published by J. Burns, London, 1840
  4. 'Free thoughts on protestant matters' by Rev. Tresham Dames Gregg MA, W. Curry, Dublin, 1846.
  5. Tresham Dames Gregg Find a Grave.
  6. What to do with the empty churches - Church for sale, reporter Andy O'Mahony, RTE Archives, January 7, 1979.

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