The Jewel of Dublin’s churches Thursday 18 July 13 1
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} Original church dedicated to St Werburgh built around 1190 } Destroyed by fire in 1301 } Rebuilt and repaired in 1607 } Enlarged in 1661 and rebuilt again in 1771 } Interior dates from 1759 } Present organ (still in use) installed in 1767 } Pulpit came from the Chapel Royal in Thursday 18 July 13 22
} The original parish in Celtic and Danish times was dedicated to St Martin of Tours and the church then stood a little south of this present building } In the 16th and even 17th centuries, St Werbugh’s church as we know it today had chapels of St Martin, St Catherine and Our Lady Thursday 18 July 13 23
} Today, St Werburgh’s is part of the Christ Church Cathedral Group of parishes with St Michan’s and All Saints’ Grangegorman. } In total there are only 145 family units in the “parish” with only a regular congragation here in St Werburgh’s of around 20 parishsioners. 24 24 Thursday 18 July 13 24
} All financial resources are shared equally between the three churches and one can only imagine the enormity of the financial burden on such a small number of people to maintain such old churches. } In addition, while St Werburgh’s is a wonderful, unique church building, our congregation is made up of parishioners 25 25 Thursday 18 July 13 25
} The current project of initial essential work is costing the parish around ¢150.000 } The next project to secure the other windows etc will be in the region of ¢100,000 } The third phase of complete re-wiring will coast a further ¢250,000 } Floors and walls will then cost ??? Thursday 18 July 13 26
} The final decoration if it is to be done correctly is anyone’s guess!! } Apart from all this and even if such work was never undertaken, the annual running costs of this magnificent church is in the region of ¢25-30,000 and that doesn’t count the clergy stipends or salaries!! 27 27 Thursday 18 July 13 27
} If as a parish, we sit back and do nothing, I have no doubt, that there will be no alternative but to close the doors on this church for public worship } If on the other hand, we join forces with other groups such as Dublin Castle, the OPW, Music Network and or others, then this church will have a remarkable future Thursday 18 July 13 28
} A remarkable future, not just as a place of worship, which would of course be its primary function, but also as a venue for such things as } Exhibitions } Lectures } Concerts } Historical and cultural visits 29 29 Thursday 18 July 13 29
} As a parish, we already have the legal template for a joint management group for a shared resource and we will no doubt hear more of how this can be achieved a little later when Eric Parry speaks to us on his work with St Martin in the Field, London } This magnificent building can be preserved as a worshipping church for generations to come. Thursday 18 July 13 30
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