All Saints Church, Raheny
Encyclopedia
All Saints' Church is the Church of Ireland
Parish Church
of the Parish of Raheny
, prominent on the Howth Road as it approaches the centre of Raheny
, Dublin, Ireland
. It lies in walled grounds with mature tree cover, just south of the village core, and is widely hailed as a fine architectural specimen.
, to replace the historic St. Assam's Church
in the centre of Raheny village.
, who already held certain rights in the parish, notably the right of presentation of the rector, made a proposal to construct a new church, on a site he would provide at the village end of his St. Anne's Estate, and this was agreed by the parish in 1885. Lord Arthur's father had previously agreed with the Parish to build a new church, but the plans did not come to fruition.
The new church was sponsored (to the tune of 9,000 pounds in the 1880s) by Lord Ardilaun. The church was designed by George Ashlin
and built almost entirely of Irish materials. The main contractors were Messrs Collen Brothers of Dublin and Portadown, who also carried out other work for Lord Ardilaun.
The building style is described as "early English", and it has a cruciform shape. The walls are of Wicklow granite, with limestone dressings, and there is a substantial belfry, with Cumberland slates, an octagonal spire and a weathervane. There is also a small crypt, where some of the Guinness family are buried.
The shape of the building was cut out at the Raheny end of the estate, with a curtilage provided, in 1885, and building commenced shortly thereafter, and the new All Saints' Church was completed around October 1889. The Service of Dedication of the church took place on December 16 1889 but full consecration could not take place, as the freehold of the land was not available, being held by the Howth Estate. Lord Ardilaun committed to maintaining the building on two conditions, firstly that the rites of the church be standard, and second that both the new and old (St. Assam's) churches be well-maintained.
In 1945, an additional acre of ground near the church was purchased from Dublin Corporation. In 1960, the parish entered into a Union with the Parish of Coolock
, which has its own historic church, St. John the Evangelist.
In 1969, the new Parochial Hall was dedicated as "Johnston Hall." At about the same time in 1969, the freehold of the land at All Saints was finally purchased from the Howth Estate, for 250 pounds, leaving the way open for full consecration.
Adjacent to All Saints' is the Johnson Hall, for community activities, a modern Rectory, replacing the original Rectory which stood on glebe lands across the Howth Road, and a well-preserved ornamented gate lodge, for the verger.
front man Bono
married Alison Hewson
at the church on 21 August 1982, with Adam Clayton
as best man.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
Parish Church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of the Parish of Raheny
Parish of Raheny (Church of Ireland)
The Parish of Raheny is the modern successor in the Church of Ireland to an early parish, in Raheny, a district of Dublin reputed to be a site of Christian settlement back to 570. Today's parish comprises Raheny village and the wider district, and is in a Union with the Parish of Coolock...
, prominent on the Howth Road as it approaches the centre of Raheny
Raheny
Raheny is a northern suburb of Dublin, the capital city of Ireland. It is an old area, centred around an old village, and is referenced back to 570 AD but after years of light settlement, with a main village and a coastal hamlet, grew rapidly in the 20th century, and is now a mid-density...
, Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It lies in walled grounds with mature tree cover, just south of the village core, and is widely hailed as a fine architectural specimen.
History
All Saints' was built for the Church of Ireland Parish of RahenyParish of Raheny (Church of Ireland)
The Parish of Raheny is the modern successor in the Church of Ireland to an early parish, in Raheny, a district of Dublin reputed to be a site of Christian settlement back to 570. Today's parish comprises Raheny village and the wider district, and is in a Union with the Parish of Coolock...
, to replace the historic St. Assam's Church
St. Assam's Church
St. Assam's is the name of two historic churches in the village of Raheny, Dublin, one a picturesque ruin in the middle of the village, one the structurally sound but no longer primary church built for the local Roman Catholic community of the area after the revival of religious rights...
in the centre of Raheny village.
Construction
In 1881, Arthur Edward Guinness, Lord ArdilaunArthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun
Arthur Edward Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun, 2nd Baronet , known as Sir Arthur Guinness, Bt, between 1868 and 1880, was an Irish businessman, politician, and philanthropist, best known for giving St Stephen's Green to the people of Dublin.-Background and education:Guinness was born at St Anne's,...
, who already held certain rights in the parish, notably the right of presentation of the rector, made a proposal to construct a new church, on a site he would provide at the village end of his St. Anne's Estate, and this was agreed by the parish in 1885. Lord Arthur's father had previously agreed with the Parish to build a new church, but the plans did not come to fruition.
The new church was sponsored (to the tune of 9,000 pounds in the 1880s) by Lord Ardilaun. The church was designed by George Ashlin
George Ashlin
George Coppinger Ashlin was an Irish architect, particularly noted for his work on churches and cathedrals. He had an early association with leading architect E.W. Pugin.-Work:*Adelaide Memorial Church, Myshall...
and built almost entirely of Irish materials. The main contractors were Messrs Collen Brothers of Dublin and Portadown, who also carried out other work for Lord Ardilaun.
The building style is described as "early English", and it has a cruciform shape. The walls are of Wicklow granite, with limestone dressings, and there is a substantial belfry, with Cumberland slates, an octagonal spire and a weathervane. There is also a small crypt, where some of the Guinness family are buried.
The shape of the building was cut out at the Raheny end of the estate, with a curtilage provided, in 1885, and building commenced shortly thereafter, and the new All Saints' Church was completed around October 1889. The Service of Dedication of the church took place on December 16 1889 but full consecration could not take place, as the freehold of the land was not available, being held by the Howth Estate. Lord Ardilaun committed to maintaining the building on two conditions, firstly that the rites of the church be standard, and second that both the new and old (St. Assam's) churches be well-maintained.
Developments
A new organ was provided for All Saints' after a new Rector was appointed in 1918, and in 1926, a one ton bell was given in memory of Lady Ardilaun by her nephew and principal heir, Bishop Benjamin Plunket, retired Bishop of Meath. In 1938, the Bishop began steps to transfer the church to the Representative Church Body on behalf of the parish, and this was effecte on January 1 1939, though in the absence of the freehold of the land, full consecration as parish church was still not possible. On All Saints' Day, 1939, the church's fiftieth anniversary was celebrated.In 1945, an additional acre of ground near the church was purchased from Dublin Corporation. In 1960, the parish entered into a Union with the Parish of Coolock
Parish of Coolock (Church of Ireland)
The Parish of Coolock in the Church of Ireland was one of two successors to the ancient parish of that name, the other being the ongoing Roman Catholic parish.-Early years:...
, which has its own historic church, St. John the Evangelist.
In 1969, the new Parochial Hall was dedicated as "Johnston Hall." At about the same time in 1969, the freehold of the land at All Saints was finally purchased from the Howth Estate, for 250 pounds, leaving the way open for full consecration.
All Saints' today
The church was finally consecrated on December 16th 1989, after a memorial service on November 1st.Adjacent to All Saints' is the Johnson Hall, for community activities, a modern Rectory, replacing the original Rectory which stood on glebe lands across the Howth Road, and a well-preserved ornamented gate lodge, for the verger.
Restoration works
Some restoration work was done on stained glass windows in the 2000's, and in April 2010, it was announced that the church required extensive roof repairs and an appeal for a quarter of a million euro was launched while a Government heritage building grant was received in early May.Popular culture
U2U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
front man Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
married Alison Hewson
Alison Hewson
Alison "Ali" Hewson , is an Irish businesswoman and activist, and wife of U2's lead singer Bono. As a businesswoman, Ali is the co-founder of both EDUN Clothing and NUDE Skincare...
at the church on 21 August 1982, with Adam Clayton
Adam Clayton
Adam Charles Clayton is a musician, best known as the bassist of the Irish rock band U2. Clayton has resided in County Dublin since the time his family moved to Malahide when he was five years old in 1965...
as best man.
Sources
- raheny.com (as at 29 May 2007)
- Raheny, Dublin, Select Vestry of the Parish of Raheny: 1990, "Through Countless Ages: The Story of the Church and Parish of All Saints', and the District of Raheny" - Arthur Garrett