A cathedral in miniature

Kylemore Abbey Church was built in 1881 in memory of Margaret Henry. It is sometimes referred to as Ireland’s Taj Mahal. Margaret Henry was the beloved wife of Mitchell Henry, the son of a wealthy Manchester cotton merchant who built the nearby Kylemore Castle as his dream home in 1871. Margaret tragically died in 1874 while on a family holiday in Egypt. She had fallen ill with dysentery and died within 16 days of contracting the disease aged only 45. Her remains were brought back to Kylemore and laid to rest in the Mausoleum on the grounds. Mitchell wanted to show his love that would last through time. He commissioned James Franklin Fuller who was working at Ashford Castle at the time to design it. The church is described as a ‘cathedral in miniature’ and the interior resembles the inside of  The Chapel of St Stephen’s at Westminster. It used different colors of marble from all 4 provinces of Ireland and the interior is made of cream sandstone. Around the walls are smiling angels and exquisite stone carvings. The stained glass window depicts the five graces; Fortitude, Faith, Charity, Hope, and Chastity.