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Merrion Hall was built in 1863 near the Georgian "Merrion Square", as possibly the largest Brethren assembly in the world, and was also the 2nd assembly built in Dublin (the 1st being [[Aungier Street Hall]], among private house meetings). "The Dublin Builder", upon its completion and opening, referred that "it may be regarded in somewhat the same light as the Spurgeon Tabernacle". In fact, its "double deck preacher's platform" was said to have been "almost identical to that of the [[Metropolitan Tabernacle]] in London. Merrion also contained three completely oval galleries. The lower hall in the basement contained a below-floor baptism pool.
The first resident worker was [[Joseph Denham Smith]] (1816-1819), well known throughout England and Ireland for his evangelistic work, and hymn writing.
==Design==
The description of the interior and exterior design, as described by the forementioned trades magazine, can be found at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrion_Hall#cite_note-4 Wikipedia article on Merrion Hall].<br /><br />The cost was described as £16,000, including the fittings and furniture. This is equivalent to $20,906.00 in American dollars, which translates into $418,129 in 2018 with an [http://www.in2013dollars.com/1863-dollars-in-2018?amount=20906 inflation calculator]. The dimensions of the site covered an area of 6,800 superficial feet, 85 feet width by 90 feet in depth. The building seated about 3,500, and, with standing room, would accommodate 5,000.
* Ventilation system: Edmunson & Company
* General contractor: Cockburn & Sons
* Iron work: Mr. Strong, of Hammond-lane.
==Closing==
The brethren assembly occupied the building until the late 1980's 1988 when it was sold to a developer, and largely destroyed by a fire in 1991, and redeveloped as the [[Davenport Hotel]] behind the original restored 1863 facade.
==Merrion Hall in Popular Culture==
* The building was used as a film location for the 1991 film [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear_My_Song Hear My Song] portraying a London night club.
* One of the few religious buildings mentioned in James Joyce's "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_(novel) Ulysses]" is Merrion Hall.
==Sources==
* [http://www.stempublishing.com/hymns/biographies/jdsmith.html J. Denham Smith bio]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrion_Hall Wiki on Merrion Hall
* [http://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/060-merrion-hall Dublin City Merrion Hall article]