Athboy parish to mark 180 years of St James' Church
Mass, book launch, and concert in week of celebrations
The Roman Catholic parish of Athboy is marking the 180th anniversary of St James' Church with a week of celebrations.
The events begin tomorrow (Sunday 31st August) with Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Meath, Most Rev Tom Deenihan, at 11.30am.
This will be followed by tea for all in the church grounds where "connections will be made and conversations flow - one big table, a place for everyone". Those attending are asked to "bring a cake, share the joy". There will be special activities for children.
Bernard Walsh’s comprehensive history of the parish, churches and religious life - 'A History Worth Recording' - will be launched on Sunday 31st, as look back on the church and parish history and a keepsake for future generations. Bernard will lead guided tours throughout the week, offering a chance to experience the history of St James ’ Church in context.
Tuesday 2nd September sees Holy Hour and Benediction, described as a peaceful time for everyone to pause, reflect, and pray together in the heart of St James ’ Church.
On Wednesday 3rd a Community Mass will celebrating the core of the parish - all community groups are welcomed and encouraged to represent their purpose.
Friday 5th sees a concert with Mary Duff and her band.
Some 27 classes across Athboy ’s three national schools will make their mark — each sharing words or artwork that capture what it means to be part of the parish community. A display of young voices and visions. With building underway on a new pastoral centre in a former restaurant premises next to the church grounds, the Pastoral Council will have storyboards on display in the church lobby highlighting the progress and the vision for the centre. St James' Church was spearheaded by Fr James Rickard who came to Athboy as parish priest in 1830. He was previously parish priest in Kildalkey where he also built a new church. Catholic Emancipation in 1829 spawned a whole new era of church building in Ireland. The Irish Ecclesiastical Register of 1869 tells us that "in the Diocese of Meath in 1800, nearly all places of worship were mud-walled thatched houses. Now there are 144 well built Churches” - on average nearly two new churches in every parish in Meath Diocese.
In 1861, alterations and decoration of the Church begin. From 1845 to 1861 nothing was done, presumably because of Famine years and general poverty. The first two stained glass windows were installed in 1861. By 1898, there was a major structural defect when cracks appeared in stonework of the tower. Fr Fox directed that the tower be demolished down to roof level and re-built. Cost to be “maybe as much as £2,000”. In the 1920s, St Joseph's altar alcove was built with inadequate foundations which to this day gives it a “leaning” effect.
A detailed history of the church is carried in Bernard Walsh's book, which also contains a short biography of each of the past parish priests of Athboy. There are also biographies of 32 young men from the parish who joined the priesthood since the Church was built as well as 48 young women who joined various religious orders. Each of the stained glass windows of the church are described with details about the iconography, patronage and manufacturer. Normally such celebrations of churches are held on the 175th anniversary but the pandemic of 2020 put paid to that at the time.