Saint Francis Xavier Church, Neoclassical church in Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, Ireland.
Saint Francis Xavier Church is a neoclassical building located on Upper Gardiner Street that features a granite facade with striking architectural details. The entrance displays four large Ionic columns supporting a pediment, creating an imposing front that faces onto the street.
The church was built in 1832 following designs by Father Bartholomew Esmonde and architect Joseph B. Keane. The structure was constructed from cut granite and became an important place of worship in Dublin from its opening onward.
The church is known for its collection of paintings, mostly Italian and dating from the Victorian period, along with a sculpted altar piece. The Latin inscription on the pediment reads DEO UNI ET TRINO SUB INVOC S FRANCISCI XAVERII, meaning "to God one and Three under the invocation of St Francis Xavier". The church appears in James Joyce's short story "Grace" from Dubliners and in the 1991 film The Commitments, where its organ plays A Whiter Shade of Pale.
The church stands on Upper Gardiner Street, a short walk from Mountjoy Square, and is run by the Jesuits. Visitors enter from the street side; the granite front and Ionic portico face directly onto the pavement. Because it is an active parish, sightseeing is best fitted around Mass times rather than assumed at any hour.
The church served as a filming location for a movie and holds the remains of a blessed individual that draws the faithful. This connection to both religious devotion and popular culture makes the place interesting to different types of visitors.
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