Celebrating 225 years of worship and community at Mayo church
THE Church of Ireland, Straid Parish Church, Foxford, has announced a special Ecumenical Service of Celebration on November 1 at 4.30 p.m., marking 225 years of continuous worship and service to the local community.
The church warmly invites people from across the parish and surrounding community, from all Christian traditions and backgrounds, to join together for this very special occasion.
The preacher is Bishop Michael Burrows, Bishop of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, who will join the congregation in giving thanks for the church's long history and its continuing place at the heart of the Foxford community.
Located on the Market Square in the heart of Foxford, Church of Ireland, Straid Parish Church was constructed in 1801 by parochial assessment at a cost of £400, with the tower and gallery added in 1826. Welland and Gillespie were the appointed architects, and the church design is indicative of The Board of the First Fruits.
During the 19th century, Foxford was owned by the Bingham family, the Barons of Clanmorris of Newbrook, and they were responsible for the structural build.
Among the church's many features is its beautiful East Window (designed by William Francis Dixon of Franz Mayer & Company, Munich and London).
The East Window was erected in 1908 by John Bingham, 5th Baron Clanmorris, and dedicated to the memory of his parents. The window remains a treasured part of the church and serves as a reminder of the generations who have contributed to the life and story of the parish.
For 225 years, the church has been a place of worship, prayer, celebration and remembrance, witnessing the changing lives and stories of generations within the parish. So, the 225th anniversary celebrations on November 1 provides an opportunity not only to reflect on the rich heritage of Church of Ireland, Straid Parish Church but also to look forward with hope to its continuing role within the community for generations to come.
Everyone in the community is warmly invited to attend.