03.12.2024
‘Keep letting your light be seen’ – 150th Anniversary of St Thomas’ Church Mount Merrion
Parishioners of St Thomas’ Church, Mount Merrion, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the consecration of their church and the work of God in that place on Advent Sunday (December 1). The service honoured the connections which sprang from the church and, as the preacher the Revd Ruth Elmes, who is herself connected to the church pointed out, the milestone anniversary is not about celebrating the stability of the stonework but rather about giving thanks for the work of God past, present and in years to come.
The theme of connection started with the Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe the Rt Revd Michael Burrows who presided. The Church of St Thomas was consecrated by Archbishop Richard Trench on Thursday November 26 1874 and served as a Chapel–of–Ease to Taney Parish where, much later, Bishop Burrow’s late father, Canon Walter Burrows, was incumbent.
In 1956 the Parish of Mount Merrion was created out of Taney Parish and the Revd Trevor Hipwell was the first Rector of the parish, instituted on June 24 1956. The Revd Ruth Elmes is a relative of Canon Hipwell. Canon Trevor and Jill Hipwell’s daughters, Ruth Hyland and Rebecca Moore also attended the service.
Welcoming the congregation, which filled the church to capacity, the Rector Canon Gillian Wharton said the anniversary was a momentous day for the parish and its community of faith. “Today, we do not just give thanks for the church as a building, we give thanks for the church as a community of people, the Body of Christ; for those whose faith and vision saw the building of the church, the foundation of the parish and then the extension of the church; for those who have been a part of this church community over the past 150 years and of a parish community for the past 68 years; for those whose presence and prayers have hallowed the walls and fabric of this church for 150 years and made it a house of prayer,” she said.
Canon Wharton noted that over the past number of years the parish had undertaken a number of projects to enable the church, in its prominent location, be a witness to all who enter its doors or pass by on the busy N11. She pointed to the Wayside Pulpit with its varied messages to inspire, or make people reflect or smile as they sit in traffic or pass by.
The Revd Ruth Elmes’ association with St Thomas’ Church began before she was born as her parents were married there in the early 1960s. Canon Hipwell was her mum’s cousin and “did the honours”. Having visited the rectory as a child, she later became a short term parishioner and her husband’s funeral took place in the church. A number of years later she found herself back in the parish again, this time as a final year ordinand doing a placement with Canon Wharton, when she found herself robed and in the vestry facing a photo of Canon Hipwell on the wall and wondering if he would be as shocked as she was to find herself there.
Observing that the 150th anniversary celebration was not about admiring the stability of the stonework, she pointed out that the church had stood for generations. The Gospel reading [Luke 21: 25–36] spoke of sprouting leaves and she said the occasion was a time to look at the leaves that have sprouted and the branches that had supported and grown during the time the building had stood.
“The church of St Thomas here on Foster’s Avenue is known for many things. Not just static stone but light shining through the East window providing light and a message of light and hope to passers by – the very Gospel of an outward looking church. The sign facing onto the N11, starting conversations about inclusion and worth in buses, in cars and on the radio. Who knows how far the message travels?” she said.
Familiarity could remove our ability to see or feel what we ought and Ruth asked members of the congregation to but their hands on the walls or pews, connect their feet to the floor and find a way to touch and connect with the fabric of the place with its 150 years of prayer, the people and situations that seeped into the living stone, sadness, joy and gratitude. “Feel the work of God within this place and through its people. We give thanks for its past, present and years to come,” she concluded.
Bringing the service to a close, Bishop Burrows said it had been a joy to be present having grown up in the next parish. He said that in Advent the Church was about lighting candles and letting that light be seen “and being doggedly determined that the light will not be quenched. Sometimes the Church has been the best at quenching its own candle so keep on ensuring that the light that prepares the way for the Lord is seen by those passing by and let people see why we are preserving the rumour of God”.
Broadcast Service
Canon Gillian Wharton will lead the Church of Ireland worship on Gaudete Sunday (December 15) on RTE One and RTE Radio 1 Extra from 11am to 11.45am with combined choirs and parishioners from Booterstown, Carysfort and Mount Merrion in Dublin.
