Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
Saturday 17 April 2010
Peppercanister Church Restored
Tomorrow (Sunday) evening at 7pm there will be a special Service of Thanksgiving in St Stephen’s Church, Dublin, to mark the completion of a major programme of restoration at this iconic Dublin church, the Archbishop of Dublin will preach.
Dedicated to the first Christian martyr, St Stephen, the church is affectionately known as the Pepper Canister or the Pepper Pot because of its distinctive profile. It was built as a chapel of ease for the parish of St Peter and consecrated by Archbishop Magee on 5 December 1824.
The white Portland stone facade has recently been refurbished at a cost in excess of €600,000. Carried out in three phases, beginning in 2007, the work attracted grant assistance from the Representative Church Body, Dublin City Council, the Heritage Council and the Department of Environment. It involved the removal of inappropriate cement mortar and the entire re-pointing of the exterior walls together with repairs to the roof and windows and to the stonework. The distinctive entrance portico, an impressive architectural feature of the church and the surrounding area, was also refurbished and provided with protection from the depredations of the city pigeons.
However the main focus of the work, and by far the most expensive, involved the magnificent copper cupola. It was only when high scaffolding permitted close inspection of the cupola, which has been completely replaced with special pre-painted copper plate, that it was discovered that the eight columns which supported it were structurally unstable. They had to be dismantled, taken down and re-erected in a painstakingly slow and difficult process which delayed the completion of the work and increased the overall expenditure considerably.
The Rector, the Revd David Gillespie, has paid tribute to all of those involved in the project not least Historic Buildings Consultant, Mr. Dermot Nolan, and the Select Vestry. He has indicated that the Select Vestry is interested in promoting the use of the church as a concert venue and discussing the future use of the building during the week with any interested party.
Approximately €100,000 of the €600,000 cost of the work remains outstanding and donations will be welcome. They may be sent to the Honorary Treasurer, Dr. John McCrodden, 32 Killiney Towers, Killiney, Co. Dublin.
www.peppercanister.ie
This afternoon at 4pm there will be a Songs of Praise Service in Ballymachugh parish church, Co. Cavan, led by the choir of Shankill parish, Lurgan, Co. Down, and with the Dean of Kilmore, the Very Revd Raymond Ferguson, as soloist. The offering will be donated to a Fields of Life school project which involves bringing twenty five people from Shankill parish to Uganda. The project is being coordinated by the Revd Liz McElhinney, a former Rector of Calry, Sligo, whose home parish is Lurgan.
On Tuesday the Standing Committee of the Church of Ireland and the Executive Committee of the Representative Church Body will meet in Church of Ireland House, Dublin.
The lunchtime recital in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, on Wednesday will be given by organist Trevor Selby who will play woks by Bach and Stanford.
On Friday at lunchtime in King House, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, the Heritage Council will host a seminar on the Care and Conservation of Historic Graveyards.
In the evening at 7pm in North Strand School, North Strand Road, Dublin, there will, be a Dream Auction in aid of Drumcondra, North Strand and St Barnabas parishes. The lots, which include signed Irish and Manchester United football shirts, may be viewed on Thursday and on Friday up to 5pm.