Templescoby church marks 200 years
FOR two centuries people have been gathering in prayer at St Paul’s Church of Ireland in Templescoby, and this was well and truly marked as the community came together for a special service to celebrate the church’s bicentenary. Rev Nicola Halford was joined by Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, Rev Michael Burrows as well as preacher, Bishop of Sodor and Man, Rev Peter Eagles.
‘It is wonderful to consider all the families who have been part of this church over the past 200 years,’ Rev Halford said. ‘ The many people who were baptised in our font, who were married at the altar and finally who were laid to rest in our graveyard.’
Rev Halford described St Paul’s as a ‘small, vibrant church’ with a number of young families who have a lot of input. Currently the church has a total of eight families regularly attending services, most of the children being grandchildren of those who fought so hard to keep the church doors open, after it was decided that St Paul’s should be one of 144 churches nationwide to be closed back in 1956.
While references of the church go right back to the 14th century, the present St Paul’s was built in 1817 and consecrated in 1818, on a new site about two miles from the old one in the direction of Enniscorthy. A small, neat edifice, it was constructed in the later English style with a distinct square tower surmounted by angular turrets. The church roof had to be completely replaced back in 1982 which saw a major fundraiser take place at the farm centre. Since then the major part of church funds are raised through the annual Strawberry Lunch which has graduated from the home of Bill and Phoebe Lett at Brewery House, to the Church Institute and then to Davidstown Community Hall.
A small but dedicated community, those associated with St Paul’s Church were delighted to mark the milestone for the church and look forward to celebrating many more happy occasions there in the future.