A 19th century church on the grounds of a Dublin hospital is at the centre of a battle between developers and parishioners. The church, built in 1890, sits on the site of a proposed co-located cancer hospital at St James's Hospital.
A development group, Synchrony Properties Ltd, is behind moves to demolish the church to allow for the centre, but Dublin City Council is reported to have received about 50 letters of objection from locals who use the 150-seater building and wish to see the structure preserved.
Significant building
An Taisce has also joined the row, claiming that the church is of architectural and historical significance.
However, a spokesman for St James's Hospital disputed this. Speaking to The Irish Catholic he said: ''Architectural advice was sought in this process, and it concluded that the church was of marginal value, both architecturally and historically.''
He further pointed out that St James's has given a commitment to replace the church with a modern inter-faith centre which, unlike the existing building, ''will be heated, and fully accessible, including by wheelchair, for patients from the hospital''.
Final decision
No final decision on development has yet been reached by Dublin City Council which has carried out its own study of the site.
In a statement it said: ''A number of issues have arisen in relation to the status of the building. These are being examined and a full report will be made to the next meeting of the South Central Area Committee.''
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