07.10.2026
Sandford 200 Harvest Celebration of Faith, Flowers and Community
Sandford Parish Church’s bicentenary celebrations came to a close at the weekend with a stunning harvest flower festival in the church.
The Harvest Celebration of Faith, Flowers and Community was opened on Friday evening (October 2) by Miriam O’Callaghan. It closed on Sunday evening with a celebratory service of Choral Evensong at which the preacher was the Revd Patrick Irwin, the great, great, great grandson of the first Rector of the parish, Henry Irwin. Monsignor Ciarán O’Carroll of Milltown, Donnybrook and Booterstown Parishes was in attendance at the service which was led by the Rector, Canon Sonia Gyles.
The festival not only celebrated 200 years of faith and worship in Sandford but the vibrant life of the parish today which is sustained and enriched by daily acts of service, kindness and shared commitment.
The parish also highlighted its connection with the wider community and colourful creations from neighbouring parishes, schools, charities, community organisations and local businesses featured among the displays.
The beautiful, creative and at times humorous displays included the Sandford 200 Tree which offers a special record of what Sandford Parish means to many within the community. Visitors were invited to take a blank leaf and write their own reflection to add to the tree.
There was a steady flow of visitors to the festival throughout the weekend with the Rector, Canon Sonia Gyles, reflecting that they had enjoyed a wonderful weekend of colour and community, connection and friendship. She thanked all who made the festival possible.
In his sermon the Revd Patrick Irwin brought the congregation through a brief history of the Harvest Festival in Christian times. He added: “As we give thanks to God for the harvest and for 200 years of faithful witness to the Gospel here in this church we are surrounded by a wonderful array of beautiful flowers.
“The flowers are beautiful in their own right but also in what they represent – the faith of individuals and groups and our community who, in their different ways are giving thanks to God. We are celebrating the 200th anniversary of this church but we are not, to retain the floral image, resting on our laurels. We are striving forward into the future, trusting in the God who is with us and accompanies us on our voyage through life.”
