St Mary's Church, Navan, Catholic church in Navan, Ireland
St Mary's Church stands on Trimgate Street with substantial stone walls and architectural features typical of 1830s religious buildings in Ireland. The structure contains a spacious nave with elaborate interior appointments and occupies a prominent position on the street.
The church opened in 1839 following Catholic Emancipation and replaced a medieval Augustinian abbey that King Henry VIII dissolved during his conflict with Rome. It was built as a response to new religious freedom that allowed Catholics to finally construct large churches in Ireland.
The interior displays stained glass made by Franz Mayer & Co and holds a wooden life-sized Christ sculpture by Edward Smyth. These artworks shape how visitors experience the sacred space when walking through the main aisle.
Access is from Trimgate Street and the building is open to visitors during prayer times. Those wishing to view the architecture and interior fittings in quiet should visit between scheduled services.
The architect designed it to hold about 3000 people using dimensions similar to a Paris opera house. This bold planning shows how the local Catholic community wanted to express their newfound religious freedom through grand scale.
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