Plunket Street Meeting House


Plunket Street Meeting House, was the site of two churches, first a Presbyterian Church, then an independent reformed faith evangelical church on Plunket Street, Dublin. It was situated between Patrick's St. and Francis St.
The Plunket Street Meeting house was established in 1692, from the presbyterian congregation in Bull Alley. The first minister of the church was a Rev. Alexander Sinclair who came to Dublin to take up the position in 1692. Rev. Matthew Chalmers was pastor for a short time, the Rev. John Alexander was minister from 1730 until his death in 1743. Rev. William Patten, who was minister from 1745 to 1749, he was succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer Kelburn, from 1749 until his death in 1773.
The dissenting church existed on the site the eighteenth century which closed, with its new minister Rev. James Caldwell and the congregation moving to the Ushers Quay church. It was acquired by Lady Huntingdon who funded its refurbishment and reopening in 1773, the church used the Church of Ireland liturgy. The La Touche Family were also patrons of the church.
Although not a consecrated chapel in the established church, a number of evangelical Church of Ireland clergy preached at the Meeting house, such as the Hymn writer Rev. Thomas Kelly. The church supported an Alm's House, which housed a number of widows. Rev. John Hawkesworth, was an early pastor at the church. The English Independent minister Timothy Priestley preached at the church on the invitation of Lady Huntington, he was followed as minister by Rev. William Cooper, who was presented with a Silver Cup for use as a Tabernacle in the Chapel, by Town Major Henry Charles Sirr. Another pastor was a Rev. A. King and a Rev Houston. In 1843 the Rev. Simpson G. Morrison, became minister and began reviving the fortunes of the Chapel, Morrison became Presbyterian minister of Union Chapel, Lower Abbey Street, and the Plunket Street Congregation joined up with the Union Chapel.
The meeting house closed in 1882.
There were two other similar Independent Chapels in Dublin, one in York Street another the Zion Chapel, King's Inns Street.