11.04.2019
Archbishop Reconsecrates St Michan’s Crypt and Dedicates Community Garden
The crypt of St Michan’s Church in Dublin was reconsecrated by Archbishop Michael Jackson this afternoon (Thursday April 11). The crypt was broken into in February and the head of the 800 year old mummy known as the Crusader was stolen along with another skull. They have since been recovered by Gardaí.
The Archbishop also dedicated the beautiful new community garden in the churchyard of St Michan’s this afternoon. A special green space has been turned over to the garden and raised beds will be kept by the parish, local schools and Church Street Community Garden.
Today’s activities came hot on the heels of a visit to St Michan’s Church yesterday by President Michael D Higgins and Mrs Sabina Higgins. They were given a tour of the historic church and its crypts which are deeply embedded in the history of Dublin city.
This afternoon’s service began at the community garden. The endeavour is the brainchild of the Revd Ross Styles, Curate of the Christ Church Cathedral Group of Parishes, who has his roots in horticulture. He is continuing on the Smithfield Community Outreach which was begun by his predecessor, the Revd Abigail Sines.
“I thought that a community garden could bring us to the community and the community to us,” he commented “There is very little green space in this area and the churchyard of St Michan’s provides a beautiful green oasis.” He thanked Caoimhe Leppard, project coordinator at the Archbishop’s office and Allchurches Trust for their help in securing funding.
The Archbishop commended the project. “The wonderful thing is the way in which in the midst of such business and sophistication there is a reconnection with the earth here. To see a green space and to use it in this way is wonderful. It draws together a range of the Five Marks of Mission but particularly nurturing and care of the creation and it is in the middle of an area dealing with justice,” he said.
In reconsecrating the crypt, the Archbishop said prayers at the entrance and down in the crypt itself so that those who had lain there for many years could once again be at rest. He said that the combination of new earth and respect for the deceased was lovely to be able to do and as we enter Holy Week it was a living sign of our mortality and the resurrection. He thanked Archdeacon David Pierpoint for facilitating the occasion.
The service was attended by parishioners, representatives of the local community and the Gardaí, including those who led the investigation into the theft from the crypt.
