St Anne's Church Shandon

10am to 4.30pm

St Anne’s Church Shandon, built in 1722, home to the famous Shandon Bells, is a landmark building and has been a place of worship for over 280 years.

The Bells of Shandon first rang out across the city in 1752. Cast in Gloucester in England, the eight bells each carry their own inscription. The tower is also home to one of the largest caged clocks in Europe installed by the corporation in 1847 and known as the ‘four faced liar’ because of its sometimes errant time telling! At the top of the tower is the gilded salmon, or ‘de goldie fish’ an old symbol of Christianity and a symbol representing salmon fishing in the river Lee. There is a spectacular view of the city at the viewing parapet at 120ft/36m.

The interior of St Anne’s church, with its Victorian wooden vaulted ceiling, has a number of interesting features-it’s barley sugar twist altar rail; a baptismal font dating back to 1629, and its beautiful stained-glass windows.

St. Anne’s Church will be one of the stops along the route of the guided tour of Shandon by Shandon Area History Group and Tadhg McCarthy of SARA. The tour will begin at 2pm at the Shandon Footbridge. 

At St Anne's Church, participants will hear more about the recent conservation works to the clock and bells as well as the project (through funding from The Heritage Council) to conserve and care for the material heritage of the Green Coat School which features at the Bob and Joan’s Walk stop on the tour.

Participants will also have an opportunity to see the Green Coat School collection inside St. Anne’s Church including two lead statues (affectionately known as Bob and Joan) that sat at the entrance gates to the school as well as rare books dating as far back as 1599 which came from the school’s library. Please note: Ringing of the Shandon Bells will not be part of the tour.