St Iberius' Church

St. Iberius' Church
Church of Saint Iberius
Teampall Iúir[1]
Spire
St. Iberius' Church Location in Ireland
52°20′21″N 6°27′44″W
Location	North Main Street, Wexford
Country	Ireland
Denomination	Church of Ireland
History
Status	In use
Dedication	Ibar of Beggerin
Architecture
Architect(s)	John Roberts
Architectural type	Church
Style	Georgian, Gothic Revival, Renaissance Revival
Groundbreaking	1660
Completed	1766
Specifications
Length	19 m (62 ft)
Width	27.5 m (90 ft)
Number of spires	1
Materials	granite, cast iron, brick, cement, wrought iron, timber, lead, stained glass, serpentine, plaster
Administration
Province	Dublin and Cashel
Diocese	Cashel, Ferns and Ossory
Parish	Wexford and Kilscoran Union[2]
Clergy
Rector	Rev Norman McCausland[3]

St. Iberius' Church (/aɪˈbɪəriəs/ eye-BEER-ee-əs) is an 18th-century Protestant church in the centre of Wexford, Ireland, dedicated to Saint Ibar of Beggerin (Iberius). Designed by John Roberts,[4] the interior is Georgian in style, while the exterior is Renaissance Revival.[5] It is a protected structure.[6]

Building history

Church interior

View of the church from the west, c. 1895

It is believed that there was an earlier (Pre-Reformation Catholic) church on the site dedicated to local saint Ibar of Beggerin. The current building is believed to date from some time after the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.[7] In 1690, the Rector of St Iberius, Alexander Allen, accused then Mayor of Wexford, Edward Wiseman, of inciting vandals to demolish the altar and pews and steal vestments and books. St. Iberius' was rebuilt in 1760–66 to a Georgian style. A cast iron bell in the church is dated "1816."[8]

John Elgee, grandfather of the poet Jane "Speranza" Wilde (herself mother of Oscar Wilde), was curate and rector at St. Iberius'.[8]

The church is built to a cruciform plan and is wider than it is long (supposedly to fit next to the old town walls), with an upper gallery which was used originally to seat Wexford's large population of soldiers.[9][10] The building was refronted some time around 1882, producing the present facade. The organ was installed in 1893. In 1930, a prayer desk was added in memory of Dr Thomas Dowse.[8]

Restoration work took place in 1990, with balustraded serpentine communion rails being moved to St Iberius from St. George's Church, Dublin.[8] The tower with octagonal spire is inspired by Venetian Renaissance architecture.[11]

St Iberius is known for its excellent acoustics and is commonly used for concerts.[12][5] In 1996 a Russian pianist won a Kawai grand piano in a competition, but rather than bring the piano back home, he sold it to St Iberius'.[8]

Gallery

• 
  Northeast facade
• 
  Ordnance Survey Ireland benchmark at the south entrance of St Iberius'
• 
  Donation boxes made from Second World War artillery shells.
• 
  Two-light window in the tower with polychrome brick
• 
  Organ
• 
  Decorated capitals
• 
  Baptismal font

References

1. "Teampall Iúir/Saint Iberius". logainm.ie.
2. "Wexford And Kilscoran Union, Diocese of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory - Church of Ireland - A Member of the Anglican Communion". www.ireland.anglican.org.
3. "New Rector for Wexford and Kilscoran Union of Parishes". 15 August 2022.
4. An Introduction to the Architectural Heritage of County Wexford. (2010:18). Ireland: Government of Ireland.
5. "Visit St Iberius Church with Discover Ireland". Discover Ireland.
6. "Wexford County Development Plan 2022-2028 - Volume 5 - Record of Protected Structures" (PDF). wexfordcoco.ie. Wexford County Council. July 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
7. "St Iberius' Church | Wexford Town, Ireland | Attractions". Lonely Planet.
8. Comerford, Patrick. "Saint Iberius: the church at the heart of Wexford is a Georgian gem".
9. Guides, R. (2015). The Rough Guide to Ireland. United Kingdom: Apa Publications.
10. "St Iberius Church, Wexford". Screen Wexford.
11. "Saint Iberius's Church, Main Street North, UNKNOWN, Wexford, WEXFORD". Buildings of Ireland. 5 July 2005.
12. "One of Wexford's finest talents returns home for Christmas Gala at St Iberius". Irish Independent. 24 November 2023.