New Ross and Fethard-on-Sea Parish (the Hook Peninsula)
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All Saints’, Killesk
St Mogue’s, Fethard-on-Sea
St Mary’s, New Ross
Whitechurch
St Mary’s, Old Ross
History of the
Buildings at St Mary’s in New Ross Home
A place of
continuous worship in the Town for over 800 years.
The
establishment of the town of New Ross and the foundation of St. Mary’s are
closely linked to events following the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169. The town was founded in the early years of
the thirteenth century by William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, and his wife
Isabella of Leinster, daughter of Strongbow, and grand daughter and heiress of
Dermot MacMurrough, king of Leinster.
Unlike many Irish towns, New Ross was a planned development, and the
building of a very large church such as St Mary’s was a statement of the
intentions of Marshall for the future size and importance of Ross as a port
town. Until the time of what is known as
the ‘Black Death’ or
Bubonic Plague, in the middle of the fourteenth century New Ross prospered and
its port trade rivalled that of Dublin. The rich legacy of medieval effigies of
prominent citizens within the walls of the large graveyard surrounding St
Mary’s testify to the importance of this town during this period.
St Mary’s
Church, founded c.1210, the extensive remains of which are located near the top
of the hill in a commanding position overlooking the town and river, was a town
and parish church, as is its more modern addition today. It was one of the first perpendicular Gothic
churches built in Ireland in this period, and probably the largest.
The
copyright on this image is owned by Humphrey Bolton
and
is licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike
2.0 license.
Construction of
the present Church
Part of the
ruins was converted into the present church, which was built within the walls
of the nave, and over the medieval crypt in the early nineteenth century. Thus, it is an integral part of the medieval
church. The design is attributed to John
Roberts the well-known architect of much of 18th Century Waterford, but as he
died in 1796 it is assumed either that he designed the building before he died,
or that members of his family firm carried out the work. The new church was partly funded by the Board
of First Fruits - a body within the Irish church to assist with funding
building and repairs to churches and glebes in the 18th Century.
The exterior is
plain, and the walls are of coursed stone rubble construction, and the East
wall of the chancel is built into the thirteenth century transept arches of the
medieval church. Internally, the church
consists of a four-bay single volume and has a first floor gallery on three
sides of the nave, with a panelled timber balustrade, and is supported on iron
columns. There are boxed pews in both the gallery and the nave, with a central
organ in the west wall of the gallery.
The church has
a flat ceiling of lath and plaster of an unusually wide span that is subdivided
by wooden beams running in both directions.
In the chancel are several contemporary stone mural memorials of some
importance, to members of the Tottenham family, by a well-known contemporary
sculptor, van Nolt. The entrance hall
has two graceful circular stone staircases on both sides, and vestry rooms
beneath the gallery.
The original
furniture of the church is intact and much as in a photograph of 1909. Prayer desk and baptismal font positions have
been altered but otherwise this is a very fine early nineteenth C. interior of
dignity, restraint and simplicity.
An explanation
for the size of the church is perhaps that it was designed in the years
directly following the Rebellion of 1798, when it was envisaged that there
would be a large military and constabulary presence in the town, but this never
materialized, and the Church of Ireland population of the area has always been
small.
Grounds of the Church
The entrance to
the Church and grounds is through a set of stone piers with wrought iron piers,
and a steep sloping path to the church.
A small stone cottage known as the Sexton’s Cottage is to the left of
the entrance Gate but outside the wall of the graveyard. St Mary’s is surrounded by a large graveyard,
which as it is a pre-Reformation burial ground has always been used by many
families of both denominations in the town and area. An undamaged wall surrounds the whole site,
which contains graves from medieval dates to the present, although it has now
been closed to new burial sites.
Conclusions
Since it was
built in the thirteenth century, St Mary’s church has always been an important
part of life in New Ross. Today it is
the oldest surviving building in the town.
The medieval buildings are in the care of The Office of Public Works,
and the more modern building is included on the Record of Protected Structures.
It has been a
centre for Christian worship for over 800 years, and has in recent years been
used by the wider community as a venue for concerts and music due to its
exceptional acoustic properties, as well as continuing its ongoing use as a
place of worship. The highly successful
New Ross Piano festival now in its fifth year highlights this point.
Bibliography
Boyle, Michael, Architectural
& Historical report on St. Mary’s Church for The Ros Tapestry. 2004.
Colfer, Billy,
Arrogant Trespass: Anglo –Norman Wexford
1169-1400 Wexford 2002
Dunne Tom (Ed) New Ross Ros Ponte Ros Mhic Treoin
An Anthology celebrating
800 years Wexford 2007
It seems much less than a year
since we met for our last Easter Vestry with Lynne as Chairperson. The time after Easter up to Lynne’s departure
seemed particularly brief - I suppose anything we are not looking forward to comes disappointingly quickly! Lynne’s farewell was marked by two special
Parish events – the party in Kilmokea House and the
farewell service in St Mary’s with the Bishop popping-in to say his few words.
Easter last year was marked by the sadness of bereavement as first
Peter Wilmet, then Isobel Kelly and finally Roy
Daniels passed on to the Lord’s nearer presence. They each left behind a lifetime well lived,
not least in the service of this Parish.
June Tweedy was another parishioner of whom the same could be said and
she passed away in October after a cheerfully-brave battle with
motor-neuron-disease. It was with great
sadness that two loyal parishioners of St. Mogue’s
Church, Fethard-on-Sea (and previously of St Mary’s
Church, Tintern, Saltmills) were laid to rest within a fortnight of
each other last January. Abi Watchorn and Mosh Kelly had
lived and worked their neighbouring farms, had sat beside each other at
worship, had enjoyed each other’s company and now lie close by in neighbouring
graves. There were also deaths in
Nursing homes within the Parish of those who had not been parishioners. Our sympathy is with all who have lost loved
ones over this last 12 months, particularly with those of our Parish family.
On the happier side, Evan Thomas Hickey, son of Jodie and Tommy,
was baptised in St. Mogue’s Church, Fethard, and Christopher Carlson and Alexis Wilmott were married in All Saints Church, Killesk, during May; and Norma Jacob and Richard Power were
married in Straffan Parish Church, Co. Kildare by
Lynne in September. Also on the happier
side, we had a joyous Confirmation service for 12 parishioners in St Mogue’s during May, and Olive and Desmond Thorpe’s most
enjoyable Strawberry and Wine evening in June in aid of the repair of St Mary’s
Church, New Ross.
Then, in July, we had that amazing Flower Festival in St Mary’s,
New Ross, (once again ‘fair dues’ to Joan Deacon and her committee) and our
Parish Bar-B-Q (after United Service in St Mogue’s)
in Fethard (thanks again to Claire and William for
welcoming us to their garden). A group
of 14 ‘pilgrims’ went to Glendalough to walk part of
St Kevin's Way in August, for which the weather was just right - dry and not
too warm. I hope the experience was
sufficiently pleasant to entice much greater numbers to participate in our next
expedition on Midsummer’s Day!
In June, 18 members from St. Myllins
(Church in Wales) came to discover the church Mullin founded on the banks of
the Barrow and had a service of worship in St Mary’s Church, New Ross. A new guitar group formed from those who were
confirmed last April led the singing at the Family Service in St Mogue's in August – an event that boarding school
attendance prevented from being repeated, more is the pity.
Last year’s New Ross Piano Festival as usual took place in
September with recitals as always in St Mary’s Church whose acoustics and
ambiance make no small contribution to the Festival’s growing popularity. As always, Connie Tantrum was Festival
organiser and other Parish members were heavily involved.
During early October, Harvest Thanksgiving in St Mogue’s Church, Fethard-on-Sea,
with Revd (now Dean) Maria Jansson
as preacher supported the St Louis Day Care Centre and the Bishops’
Appeal. Harvest Thanksgiving in St
Mary’s Church, New Ross, was celebrated a couple of days later with an address
by Chris Anderson of the South East Simon Community. Also in early October, Lynne’s introduction
to her new parish took place in Upper Hardres,
Diocese of Canterbury and a number of our parishioners were able to
attend. Towards the end of October we
had our United Service in All Saints’ Church, Killesk.
All Saints was also the venue for our first Carol service – the
Advent Carol Service at the beginning of December which was supported by the
communities of Ramsgrange and Duncannon as well as
many parishioners. We were delighted to
have the Parish Priests of both Duncannon (Father John Nolan) and Ramsgrange (Father Bernard Cushen)
participating. Thanks must go to Connie
Tantrum who played and provided the choir, and to Dick
and Ivan Ward for their seasonal hospitality afterwards.
William and Claire Auld were the subject
of a ‘Nationwide’ item that was broadcast on RTE 1 Television on 12th
December and included a recording at our Holy Communion service in St Mogue’s Church on Advent Sunday. This received appreciative and complimentary
comment from many parts of the country and the Church of Ireland. Congratulations to all who spoke so well and
communicated such a caring, Christian, impression of our Parish and of the Fethard community.
The Carol Service in St. Mogue’s Church,
Fethard-on-Sea, took place mid-December with thanks
to Principal and Pupils of Poulfor National School,
and to Father Oliver Sweeney, for their participation. Special thanks to Mrs Olive Power and her
team for giving us such hospitality afterwards.
The collection at this service raised a total of €500 which was divided
between the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the RNLI. The Civic Carol Service in St. Mary’s Church,
New Ross, took place two days later and included many civic and community
representatives. Our thanks go in
particular to Father Tomas Kehoe from St Mary and St Michael’s Church and to the
Holy Family Confraternity Band. The collection in aid of St. Vincent de Paul
and Bishops’ Appeal raised the sum of €250 for each of these charities. Thanks
to Mrs Bea Thorpe and her team for the hospitality provided afterwards.
The Bishop presided at a United Family Eucharist in St Mary’s Church,
New Ross, on the fifth Sunday in January and joined us for an inaugural Burn’s
Supper in the YMCA Hall, hosted by my wife Isabelle and her friend Olive
Porter. My thanks go to the Committee of
the YMCA, to Olive Thorpe for donating and cooking the turnips, to Mary Dungan for her singing and to the Revd
Ivan for his piano-playing.
Our Lenten Observance consisted of midweek Eucharist in St Mogue’s Church, Fethard-on-Sea,
(where we reflected on St Paul’s Epistle to the Phillipians)
and Evening Prayer (which followed the BACI “Economic Justice” course of Bible
studies). Both were loyally attended and
hopefully proved to be a fair preparation for the Easter Celebrations. Thank you to all who enriched our worship and
provided hospitality (particularly to Olive Power for all the midweek Communion
refreshments).
Our evening services throughout Holy Week explored the theme of
what was nailed to the Cross and were reasonably well attended. However, a theme developed over the week is
difficult to achieve as only one parishioner actually attended all the services
and most others only attended their ‘own’ church for that one evening. On GOOD FRIDAY we had an opportunity to have
our ‘sins’ actually nailed to the cross in both St Mogue’s
and St Mary’s, New Ross. I would welcome
any feedback as to whether you would like me to offer a similar opportunity
next Good Friday.
EASTER DAY services commenced with the Dawn Eucharist on Slieve Coillte - celebrated on a
lovely Easter morning with about 25 people attending. Breakfast was provided afterwards, courtesy
of my wife Isabelle and daughter Claire – many thanks to them and to the
‘Barrett milk’ that saved the day from a cup of tea/coffee point of view! Congregations for later on Easter morning
were good and all our churches were very tastefully decorated – thanks to those
who took the time and trouble to make them so.
In an interview on leadership some years ago Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, said “one of the roles of leadership is to tell your own people the truth about the way things really are on the ground”. So, while it is good to recall the year in the way we have just done, it is surely more important to recognise where our weaknesses are and how we should be tackling them. The Parish became a Union exactly a year ago and so we now have some experience of working together as such. I really hope that any fears of any part of the Parish being weakened by the new arrangement have now been dispelled, and that the need for each church community to be equally represented on the Select Vestry is no longer seen as vital. If a particular church community wants to do something of a sensible nature, and is able to do it, then the Select Vestry is certainly going to be approving.
However, we have not yet availed of the opportunities that being a
union affords us, such as economies of scale or even in pooling our knowledge
when tackling a ‘local’ issue. But I am
encouraged by the recent Select Vestry decision to be united in whatever we do
for the NATIONAL
PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS. As you know, the Ploughing Championships will be held in Old Ross this year and
this presents the Parish with a great opportunity for involvement.
We all know that we have too many churches for the current
congregation of the United Parish and that sooner or later at least one,
probably two, will be closed. But that
scenario assumes that a church building only exists for divine service once a
week (or less). If an appropriate and complementary
usage could be found then such a building would have relevance and a
future. One option might be to try a
distinctively different style of worship that would draw a worshipping
community from much wider than just our own Church of Ireland parishioners. I suggest that a sub-committee to consider
these possibilities should be created and I will be happy to give ‘a go’ to
anything they come up with. Indeed, I
would welcome suggestions from such a group as to general liturgical matters
within the Union, including the feasibility of holding the likes of an
animal-blessing service or one that celebrated talents and skills.
St Mary’s Church, New Ross, is a continuing concern in terms of
maintenance and safety. Such a large
building, capable of holding hundreds of people, needs a second exit for
reasons of fire safety. A rule of thumb
is that no more than sixty people should be allowed in a public area served by
only one exit. Now that planning
permission for an additional means of access and egress has been granted I
don’t think we have any choice but to do so as soon as possible, and most
certainly before the next Piano Festival.
I want to thank all the members of the outgoing Select Vestry for
the service they have given to the Parish and for their in valuable support to
me. I want to particularly thank the
Church officers, that is Church Wardens, Glebe Wardens
and Secretary and Treasurer. Our
excellent Secretary of the past year, John Weldon, is about to face new
challenges in his work (including not being locally based in Waterford any
more) and feels he would be unable to continue in his secretarial role. While we will miss his skills, and I
personally will miss having him literally at hand to nudge me back to the
straight and narrow, we wish John success in his new career move and are
pleased he is happy to remain a member of the Select Vestry if elected.
Mrs Virginia Thorne, Mr Raymond Daniels and Mr Noel Cooper were
for differing reasons forced to retire over the course of the past year and
tonight Mrs Sheila Wilmet also retires. So above all other expressions of
appreciation, I want on behalf of the entire Parish to pay tribute to these
persons who between them have given so many years of service as members of our
Select Vestries.
In conclusion, I want to thank the many parishioners who have done
such Trojan work to keep the Parish not just going, but going forward. I know I have made many mistakes in this my
first experience as a Priest-in-Charge and thank you for putting up with,
guiding and encouraging me. I hope I
will have learnt a few lessons but warn that I will still need the same
forbearance and support from you for the coming year!