St Patrick's Church at Carnalway is now in wonderful shape following the completion of a €195,000 restoration begun just five years ago.
The church had been in danger of collapse because when it was rebuilt in 1894 no foundations had been put under the original walls, the lower parts of which were retained in the rebuild.
The result was that the centre section of the church was splitting apart, under the weight of the subsiding trancept, and saving it required the pouring of concrete under the walls to provide a new foundation.
St Patrick's is a superb example of religious architecture, with strong 11th-century style Hiberno-Roman detailing inside and out, even to the gutters. This work was carried out in 1894 under the supervision of the Diocesan Architect
James Franklin Fuller.
There has been a church on the site since the 13th century. The current Rector is John Marsden, and the church is one of three in the Newbridge Union -- with St Patrick's Church in Newbridge and St John's Church in Kilcullen.
"We started to raise money in 2000 because there was subsidence and damage," says local parishioner Hubert Beaumont, whose family have been active in the parish for generations, and who was showing people around the church yesterday as part of a fundraising event involving visiting the nearby Carnalway Lodge gardens.
"The whole project is a marvellous story of how a new Rector and very generous support from the parishioners can get something done. And particularly from Kilcullen itself -- the Kilcullen Development Association were incredibly generous towards the fund. Indeed, after an initial substantial donation from KDA, the subsequent fundraising was relatively easy."
The project also involved repairing the church roof and renovating the gutters, and restoring the organ as well as repairing the internal damage.
"It was one of those occasions when everybody concerned rose to the occasion, and our commitment is that the church should be seen by as many in the community as possible, and as often as is possible."
Hubert also paid tribute to the 'dynamic' influence of Rev Marsden in the project. "As well as being a highly spiritual man, he also believes that it is important to maintain the church's buildings. He's now looking at St John's in Kilcullen, which also needs work."
Brian Byrne.
