17.10.2016
Howth Parish Marks Two Significant Milestones at St Mary’s
St Mary’s Parish in Howth, celebrated a double anniversary last night (Sunday October 16). This year marks the 200th anniversary of the first church on the present site in Howth while it is also the 150th anniversary of the present church, which incorporates the tower of the first church. The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, was the preacher at a special Service of Thanksgiving which was celebrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson.
The first church was consecrated on October 27 1816. Fifty years later, amid new architectural sensibilities and very successful fundraising efforts, the new church was consecrated.
In his sermon, Archbishop Clarke pointed out that 1816 was a time of immense social and political instability in both Britain and Ireland. The Napoleonic Wars had come to an end and there had been great economic upheaval. However, it was a time of confidence in the Church of Ireland. It was the established Church and in unity with the Church of England. The Board of First Fruits gave grants to build or reconstruct churches and glebe properties. Seven hundred churches and nearly 500 rectories or glebe houses being built in the first couple of decades of the 19th century.
But, he said, just 50 years later when the present church was built, the Church of Ireland had less reason to be confident. By 1866 it was clear that in the not too distant future the Church of Ireland would no longer be the State Church and within a short time would be cast adrift by the British government and disestablished.
“So today is a testimony, not only to the confidence of 1816 but to the courage of 1866,” the Archbishop said. “And in 2016 we are called to face the future even as we celebrate the heritage we have been given.”
He proposed two words on which to concentrate: realism and trust. Realism in that we are living in a society that has ceased to think of Christianity or religion as their default setting. “Church, for many people, is an institution that is fussily answering questions which are not being asked,” he stated.
If the Church is to serve God while serving His world it must turn its face outwards and care for those around them, helping them to find hope, love, direction and ease isolation, he said. Citing a recent Church of England study, the Archbishop said people had not become less spiritual but if they did not find an authentic spirituality in church they would seek it elsewhere.
“As we seek to find the reality of our very changed setting, we seek also the reality of the God who must be trusted if we are to be faithful in our calling,” Archbishop Clarke continued explaining that God is to be trusted not only in times of security but in times of insecurity.
He concluded that there was a lot to thank God for over the last 200 years but we do those who went before us a greater honour and pay God greater reverence “when we face into the future with reality and trust in God”.
Photo captions:
Top – The Revd Ken Brew, Rector of St Mary’s in Howth; Archbishop Michael Jackson, Archbishop Richard Clarke and the Revd Tom O’Brien, Intern Deacon at St Mary’s, Howth.
Bottom – The choir were in fine voice for the service celebrating the 150th and 200th anniversaries of St Mary’s, Howth.