01.12.2008
Advent Launch of Enniskerry 150 by Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Churches
History was made and marked on Advent Sunday when the three churches in the greater Enniskerry area of Co. Wicklow – one Roman Catholic and two Church of Ireland – launched a combined year-long programme of religious and social events to celebrate their 150th anniversaries.
Strong ecumenical ties had already been forged over the years between the three parishes of St Mary’s Church and St Patrick’s Church, Powerscourt in the village of Enniskerry and St Brigid’s Church in nearby-Kilbride so when it was realised that each would be celebrating its sesquicentenary in 2009, it was decided that the churches would get together to plan an ecumenical programme of events.
St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and St Patrick’s Church of Ireland were built with the financial support of the 7th Viscount of Powerscourt. St Mary’s began its life in 1859, replacing a temporary building in the village called Dixon’s Barn. The two Church of Ireland buildings date from that same year – St Brigid’s Church, Kilbride was consecrated in June 1859 and the construction of St Patrick’s Church, Powerscourt was also completed although not fully licensed for worship until four years later.
The year-long programme of events, planned by a committee comprising members of the three parishes with Fr John Sinnott PP and the Revd Canon Ricky Rountree and chaired by John Godfrey began on Sunday 30 November with the launch of a prayer and specially designed banners which will be displayed at the churches and in the village of Enniskerry.
Events in the year ahead will include a special broadcast on RTÉ Television of an ecumenical service of celebration in the ballroom of Powerscourt House and of a pilgrimage led by the two Archbishops of Dublin; a themed festival day in the village; a joint-parishes golf classic at Powerscourt Golf Club; exhibitions; a flower festival; a series of talks, with guest speakers, on the theme of Faith and Business during Lent; the Enniskerry Garden Trail and a Ragman’s Ball. In addition, each parish will celebrate both its own saint’s day and the dates of the original consecration.
A 64-page publication with features about the history of the village, its most celebrated residents, and the three churches over the last 150 years has been produced to mark the anniversaries. Called ENNISKERRY – Celebrating 150 Years of Its Three Parish Churches, it is available (price €10) from the parish offices (St Mary’s @ tel. 01-2760030 and St Patrick’s @ tel. 01-2863862), along with a specially-designed calendar (€10) depicting photographs from Enniskerry past and present, and a pack of twelve Christmas cards (€10), featuring the best of the stain glass windows of the three churches.
“We hope that people of all ages will join in this celebration of 150 years of worship in our three churches and will enjoy both the religious and social programme of events, ” say Canon Rountree and Father Sinnott. “And not only the residents of Enniskerry but people from further afield, who will appreciate not just the village’s history but also its beauty.”