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Church of St. John the Evangelist

Tralee
attraction
Historical
Churches
Contact Information

The Church of St John the Evangelist stands on a site that has been occupied by Churches dedicated to St John since the year 1200 when the ruling Geraldines installed a priestly order; The Knights Hospitaliers of St. John of Jerusalem. The main entrance then was in St. John’s Lane which runs down the east side of the Ashe Hotel. The lane was still occupied by the Hospitaliers in 1602. In those days, the church was known locally as Teampall an tSolais (Church of Lights), because a lantern was hung from the tower to guide townspeople in the dark across a footbridge that spanned the Big River which ran down Ashe Street. The new Parish Centre, Teach an tSolais, takes its name from this. The present church dates back to the early 1600s and is credited with being the oldest building in constant use in Tralee. Much altered through the centuries, it owes its Gothic appearance to re-modelling carried out in 1819; further extensions were undertaken in 1834 when the present chancel was built, creating the layout with which we are familiar today. The church is particularly proud of its windows; other treasured artefacts include the Denny and Kitchener Family Bibles and the carved stone Baptismal Font, presented to the church in 1623 and still in use today The Church of St. John the Evangelist is part of the Tralee and Dingle group of Parishes in the Anglican Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe. There are six churches in the group: St. John’s Tralee, Ballymacelligott, Ballyseedy, Kilgobbin (Camp), St. Brendan’s (Killiney) and St. James’ Church, Dingle which is at the end of the popular trail – the Kerry Camino. Alongside the church is the Parish Centre, Teach an tSolais, which is available for renting and St. John’s Parochial School which is now enrolling for new pupils. All are welcome to attend Church Services on Sundays at 10.45 am and on Wednesdays at 11.00 am. Visitors to the church are welcome and for further information please contact the Rector, Rev. Canon Jim Stephens