26.05.2017
Beautiful St Bartholomew’s Celebrates 150th Anniversary
“St Bartholomew’s reminds us that heaven is not a place of otherness but a place of beauty with which we can begin our relationship here on earth…”
The 150th anniversary of St Bartholomew’s Church, Dublin 4, was celebrated yesterday evening (Thursday May 25) with the Solemn Eucharist of the Feast of the Ascension. The service was celebrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, and the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, a former curate of St Bartholomew’s, was the preacher.
The beautiful church, which is undergoing an extensive programme of renovation, was full of current and former parishioners as well as past clergy and choristers who returned for the occasion and ecumenical visitors.
The evening was made all the more special by a presentation to the longest serving member of the parish’s renowned choir. Bobby Barden has been contributing to the music in St Bartholomew’s for 75 years, half the life of the church itself. Director of Music, Tristan Russcher, thanked Bobby and he was presented with an RSCM certificate in honour of his dedicated service. The Rector, the Revd Andrew McCroskery, thanked him for all he had given to the life of the church. “Your singing in the choir will for ever be part of the life and fabric of this church,” he stated.
In his sermon, the Archbishop of Armagh recalled his first visit to St Bartholomew’s which took place almost exactly 50 years earlier. This was the beginning of a relationship which would continue to develop two years later when he became Curate. He said that the church was known for its beauty both in the building and in the concentrated beauty of its worship. “Nothing will ever be allowed to become mundane or ordinary,” he commented.
“St Bartholomew’s reminds us that heaven is not a place of otherness but a place of beauty with which we can begin our relationship here on earth,” he said adding that the beauty of the place made it easy to stand and gaze up to heaven.
The Archbishop said that on Ascension Day we are reminded that the Ascension represents both a continuity and radical discontinuity of discipleship. In the season of Easter we see the Risen Christ who is here yesterday, today and always. However the discontinuity is found in the fact that we are to remain in the world to take on the ministry of Christ and be witnesses to the ends of the earth.
Archbishop Clarke said that St Bartholomew’s had stood for 150 years as a place of beauty but the church was never an end in itself. Former Rector, Canon Walter Simpson said there was a world beyond the doors that needed to be met where it was rather than enticing people into the pews. “ Yes, we come to gaze into heaven but also to be witnesses of Christ to the ends of the earth,” the Archbishop concluded.
The foundation stone of St Bartholomew’s Church was laid on Ascension Day in 1865. The church was consecrated on December 23 1867. To celebrate the 150th anniversary, the book ‘St Bartholomew’s – A History of the Dublin Parish’ by Dr Kenneth Milne is being updated and published. It was originally published in 1963 and the expanded edition is expected to be available in December 2017. The book is available to pre–order now. Contact 01–6688522 or admin@stbartholomews.ie for further information.