Church of Christ the King, Turners Cross, Cork Art Deco Ireland

    Commissioned 1927, designed in 1928 and opened 1931.

The Church of Christ the King, Turners Cross, Cork by F Barry Byrne differs from all Irish churches up to that date.

The Design and Construction

Designed by former Frank Lloyd Wright pupil, F Barry Byrne, then practicing in Chicago, this is a church that ought to be better known.

Constructed in concrete, with a steel roof, of novel shape and with an unusually generous amount of light provided for the worshippers, it was completely modernistic in design. This uncompromising modernity was emphasised externally by a white concrete finish, now somewhat dulled by age and a huge monumental cast concrete sculpture by John Storrs set between the front entrance doors. Some influence from the design of Grundtvig Church in Copenhagen can be discerned in the external appearance, especially from the rear, but the design has no obvious model.

1. Much more about Turners Cross Church and F Barry Byrne
2. Interior View
3. Sacred Art in the Church
4. Church of Christ the King, Tulsa     also by Barry Byrne, different/similar?
5. Other Cork architecture
6. Back to Art Deco Ireland Index Page

Art Deco Ireland