The new Roman Catholic Church, Francis-street, Dublin

From The Dublin Penny Journal, Volume 1, Number 27, December 29, 1832

We have already remarked that the new Protestant churches are generally in what is called the Gothic or pointed style of architecture, but those of the Roman Catholics are more usually in the Greek or Italian style--a choice which may be variously accounted for, either from the taste for such a style acquired by the ecclesiastics in their foreign travels, or by the wish to have their places of worship distinguished from those of the Established Church. The distinction is perhaps

judicious, and at all events tends to a greater variety in the form of our architectural embellishments. The Roman Catholic Church of St. Francis, now erecting in Francis-street, is situated on the site of the ancient Franciscan monastery, founded in the year 1235. Its front is chiefly unobjectionable, for the incongruous association of a Gothic spire rising out of a Greek portico--a union which destroys the effect of both, and which is at variance with every principle of correct taste. As it is not yet too late, we indulge a hope that this error will be corrected.

G.