Historical Background to the Friends

The Friends of Christ Church Cathedral Dublin are one of the oldest such organisations in these islands. Founded in 1929, they evolved from needs of the cathedral to raise funds for the upkeep of the cathedral as the Endowment Funds had in the recent years been falling financially short of the amount required of them. The Board's reports for the years preceding these constantly mention that "it is only by voluntary contributions that the unavoidable expenses of maintenance can be met" and regularly asked the assistance of the parishes of the united dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough.
Resulting from this, an appeal was launched for help for the Special Repair Fund of the Cathedral, which the Dean signed on behalf of the Board and which was addressed to the Incumbents and Parochial Treasurers in the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and to other friends throughout Ireland. This text of this appeal is interesting because it represents the founding document establishing the Friends of the cathedral: Special Appeal establishing the Friends (Quoted from Report of the Cathedral Board etc. 1929)