Walking through Ireland, one sees many different churches, which is most likely due to the emphasis that Irish society places on religion. When walking through Cork, a beautiful city in southern Ireland, last weekend, one in particular caught my eye. At first, I thought it was a castle of some sort. As I got closer, I realized that it was not a castle at all, but a church! A service was in session, but a pastor let me in the gate to the grounds. A sign outside told me that it was Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, an Anglican church. The church was built in 1863, and is done in the Early French style of architecture.

St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, Ireland

While walking through the grounds, my breath was taken away. There were old graves scattered throughout the churchyard. Some gravestones were written in Gaelic, and others were so worn that you couldn’t even read what was written on them. The church had a gold angel on top, and is made of light gray stone. Even more magnificent than the churchyard is the front of the church. There are nine women carved into the door, and the doors themselves are made of dark wood, that is beautifully carved.

The roof & door of St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral

Seeing this church made me think of the churches in Dublin that are closer to my home. The most prominent one would be Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, which is also an Anglican church. I encountered it while walking through Dublin with my class one day during our first week in Dublin. While a beautiful church, I did not feel the same while I was walking through the grounds of Saint Patrick’s. Built in the twelfth century, it is done in the Gothic style of architecture. The church has gorgeous stained glass windows and is made from darker gray stone.

For some reason, Saint Patrick’s did not affect me the way that Saint Fin Barre’s did. For days now, I have been trying to figure out why. I believe that I personally connect more with the style of architecture that Saint Fin Barre’s is designed in. It is more airy and lighter than the style of Saint Patrick’s. I also feel that the graves in the churchyard make it more of a personal experience. While St. Patrick’s is beautiful, in my opinion, it is such an important monument in Ireland that it has become less personalized over the years.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to enter either church yet. I was hoping to attend a service at Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, but had missed the last service. I am planning to attend a service at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral while in Dublin, and am hoping the inside will help me change my mind about the personality of the building. I am also planning to go back to Cork just to attend mass at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral. While different in style, both are beautiful buildings. I personally prefer St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, but ultimately it comes down to personal taste and style.