Tour of St.John's Cof I church, Monkstown, Co. Cork

St.John's Church of Ireland was designed and built in the Gothic Revival style by William Hill in 1831/32. The interior is decorated with fine carved pews in a cruciform design with a gallery over the porch. It has an organ and 6 sets of choir pews, 3 on each side of the chancel with ornate brass communion rails in front of the altar.

The church ground was a gift of Daniel and Gerard Callaghan, MP for Cork, as tenants of Lord Longford and Lord de Vesci, their lordships also leased the same land at one peppercorn rent and they endowed the church with £50 per annum in perpertuity. The cost of the church was raised by public subscription, amounting to £300.

This is a small church designed to cater for the Protestant community in the village of Monkstown that was developing as a holiday resort from 1833 onwards. The area was noted for its safe sea bathing and its beautiful scenery beside Monkstown Bay in Cork Harbour. This is the first of many churches designed and built by William and Henry Hill together with most of the early and late Victorian villas and classical terraces still to be seen in the village. Both Henry Hill and William lived in the village. Henry in St.Aubyn's and William in Summerland.

Monkstown Community Heritage group would like to thank the Vestry and Rector of the Carrigaline Union of churches for permission to open the church for Heritage Week, 'Open Doors'.

The church has a small carpark in front of the building, so easily accessible but not wheel chair friendly.