To spot the Church of Saint John the Evangelist, just look straight ahead for a dramatic grey stone building with pointed arches, tall narrow windows, and three grand wooden doors at the end of a walkway surrounded by lawns-it’s hard to miss!
Welcome to the magnificent Church of Saint John the Evangelist! Imagine the year is 1903: the soft hum of workers and the clink of chisels fill the air as Gothic arches sweep ever skyward. You’re standing where Kilkenny’s O'Loughlin family dreamed of a church grand enough to honor their family legacy-so they got William Hague, a famous architect, to design it. Now, you might notice the tower looks a bit like someone forgot to put a hat on top! That’s because the spire was never built-apparently, even the grandest plans sometimes run out of steam or cash. The grounds here are lush and green, giving a sense that time itself likes to linger amongst the old trees. This whole spot was gifted by James Butler, the Marquess of Ormonde, which sounds straight out of a fairy tale. The Gothic Revival style makes you feel as if you’ve stepped onto a movie set, and the air almost hums with old secrets. So, take a deep breath-you’re walking not only through grass but through stories that have been growing here for centuries. And don’t worry about ghosts, they only come out for choir practice.
