See below the current magazine - Thanks as always to Lilian Webb (Editor) for keeping this valuable resource going during these difficult times
Issue 63 CSNL NEWS January/February, 2021
Parish Of Celbridge
& Straffan with Newcastle-Lyons
Church of Ireland
United Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough
By the parishioners
- for the parishioners
From
Our Rector - Dear Friends ..
Firstly may I wish you all a very Happy New Year. We still face a difficult period but we do so
together in the context of a vaccination programme that has started, however
slowly. With this new year comes new
hope and the prospect of new beginnings.
Many of us will be confined to our homes and immediate environment for
at least a month or so and while it is frustrating perhaps we can look for the
opportunities that come with this challenge.
We have time together with our immediate family - something we often
struggled to have before Covid and we were all so busy that we were literally
like ships that pass in the night. So
let’s use
this time and cherish those around us who we may have taken for granted.
We also have time to reflect on our lives and even
pray and we should not underestimate the importance of either - perhaps this is
a time to take stock and consider a new direction or a new purpose in our lives
- it is good to listen to our hearts and to listen to God and in the busyness
of life we may not have a chance to do either.
Time is a gift - it is part of the gift of life and we have been given
this time - let us use it wisely and constructively.
Yours Stephen
Prayers
We pray for all those who are sick at home, in
hospital or nursing homes especially during restricted visiting hours, those
who care for them, those who have lost their livelihood due to Covid-19, those
isolated in their homes not able to see/visit friends and loved ones, those
bereaved, all front line staff, all those in government and the HSE who have
decisions to make and those working on a vaccine.
Live
Broadcast
Sunday, 22nd November saw the first live
broadcast from Straffan - and the trial of our new permanent webcam, which
worked very well. It was lovely for
Straffan parishioners especially seeing the church again. Debbie Kelly, Jennifer Byrne, Marcus
Beresford & Vivien Bond recorded the readings which were included in
the live broadcast along with Dee Hutchinson’s recording
of the prayers. The setting of the
service with the playing of “Be Still for the presence of the Lord” before
the service commenced set the scene. Thanks
to our Rector for embracing all this technology since March!
Christmas
It was good to be able to return to church on 6th
December in all three churches up to Christmas Day. Our Rector notes that it was certainly
a Christmas like no other and yet despite the small numbers and muted
celebrations it was still Christmas and the light did shine in the darkness and
we now live and walk in that light.
Services
- (all services in January until further notice on line only)
At this point we do not know when churches will reopen
and regardless of Government advice we will not open until the situation
regarding Coronavirus infection improves radically. As one parishioner said to Rev. Stephen recently
- “just
because we can doesn’t mean
we should”. As Rector, his priority is the safety
of our parishioners and those in their contact group. If and when we are given permission to
reopen, Rev. Stephen plans to consult the Select Vestries before making
any decision.
Primrose
Hill National School
Now that it has been confirmed that our schools are
going back to online learning we wish the pupils and staff all the best as they
deal with the challenges posed by online learning and also miss the friendship
and fellowship of the school environment.
Well
done!
Congratulations to Judith Gleeson and her team
of distributors for the face masks for
the elves fundraiser which raised €342 for Dublin Zoo and received temporary
adoption certificates issued by the Zoo in the name of “The parish of Celbridge, Straffan
& Newcastle-Lyons”. She looks
forward to being able to visit their adoptees - a giraffe, red panda, penguin,
two elephants & two orangutans!
Organisation
Focus - Newborn Knitting - newborn knitting@gmail.com
This organisation, in the process of registration with
the Charities Regulator was set up to make clothes for refugees. Over 500 children in the 0-6 age group reside
in the camp on the Greek island of Samos.
Currently in lockdown, it is not possible to send items - but as well as
clothes and toys for the children, other items in short supply are ladies
knickers, bras, sanitary towels, children’s underwear, soap, toothpaste,
toothbrushes, soothers and bibs. The
contact, Judith, lives in Dublin and when out of lockdown, deliveries
can be made to her.
For
Warmer - For Colder - Marriage Blessing & Baptism
There was a lovely warm feeling when parishioners
returned back to church in Straffan on 6th December after 11
weeks. There were lovely flowers along the
aisle and two fabulous white arrangements at the top of the church. The reason - there was a wedding blessing,
but it was also a US army couple and it took place at 7.30 a.m, in the company
of a congregation in single figures, Major Nick Erdimiller & Ms. Casey
Olsen sought God‘s
blessing on their marriage. It was a
very special and moving event and one which our Rector imagines will
remain unique in his experience. We wish
Nick & Casey every blessing in their life together and look forward
to them returning to visit us in Straffan (as is their intention), preferable
at a slightly later hour and on not such a bitterly cold morning!
On Sunday, 13th December, Isaac Peter
Cosgrove, son of Jonathan & Clionadh and brother of Phillipa
& Caleb was baptised in Christ Church, Celbridge. The Godparents were Colin Carey &
Antonia Cosgrove. We wish Isaac
Peter God’s
richest blessing in his journey in life and faith.
Bishops’ Appeal
Funds Allocated Report By Geoffrey McMaster
Thanks to Newcastle-Lyons parish for a total of €380 towards the
appeal for Beirut.
€10,000 Tearfund Ireland & Christian Aid - Beirut
Appeal.
€10,000 Self
Help Africa - Cashew project - Burkina Faso.
€5,000
Christian Aid - overseas projects for costs due to Pandemic.
€10,000 Feed
the Minds - food & forestry projects - Cameroon.
€10,000 Fields
of Life - projects in 6 schools in Uganda.
€4,480 CMS
Ireland - training for diocesan deaf centre - Cairo.
€26,000 CMS
Ireland & Mothers’ Union - train women - Burundi.
€10,000 Christian Aid - supporting farmers in
projects - Malawi.
€10,000 Tearfund Ireland - support and training for
foster parents.
€10,000 Christian Aid - water & electricity to
health centres - Sierra Leone - this project is included in their Advent Appeal.
Church
Review 2021
2020 was a challenge with regards to getting the
monthly edition of the Church Review to the parishioners who subscribe to this
Diocesan publication. It was more and
more difficult for anyone to collect the Reviews from the Taney Parish Centre
in Dundrum on a monthly basis and then to arrange for them to be delivered to
each church to be collected by each subscriber.
So it is great to report that Lucan Parish Centre has been added as a
collection point for the Review in 2021, which means the distributors will be
able to continue with collecting and distributing on a monthly basis to each of
the churches. This is great news. If you haven’t paid by now, please do so
immediately, the cost is €40 (or €30 for those who wish to avail of the €10 rebate from
2020). Thanks to our distributors for
the challenge they had in 2020 - Debbie Kelly - Straffan, Elizabeth
Waldron - Newcastle-Lyons and Ken Denner - Celbridge.
NON
Going Events!
Craft & Chat/ Time Of Prayer For Healing &
Whist Drives will not resume until the Pandemic is considerably
less of a threat.
Team
Hope Shoe Boxes Appeal - Christmas Auction
Thanks to all who supported the appeal.
Parish
Hall Buildings - A New Lease Of Life -
By Jos Evertsen, January, 2021
Our
Parish is steeped in history and heritage. Together with our church buildings
we are fortunate to have quite a complex of Parish Hall Buildings, The Upper
Hall and The Lower Hall. The former
consists of The Slip Hall (originally the parish school) flanked on either
side by Slip Houses 1 and 2 respectively, formerly the teacher’s houses to the school. The Lower Hall also had its
various uses and became The Boys Working
Shop. Here, boys were taught trades such as carpentry, shoemaking (to
name but a few!) and the girls learned domestic husbandry and home economics.
These
buildings were built by Lady Louisa Conolly in 1813/1814 as a
philanthropic gesture towards local integrated free education. They are a
charming example of 19th century institutional architecture, built in a style
modestly reminiscent of Castletown House. Lady Louisa spent a good deal
of time and money on the school (The Slip Hall), designing the buildings,
engaging the masters, judging the children’s work and writing rules and prayers for them all. Over many years these
Parish Hall Buildings were well maintained and had various uses.
With
the exception of the Slip Hall (the middle section of the Upper Hall), the Slip
Houses 1 & 2 and the Lower Hall had in more recent years fallen into
disrepair, were overgrown with ivy and provided a comfortable home to the local
pigeon population and other wildlife, including vandalism. All required
significant repairs and refurbishment if they were to be brought back to life
and full operation. This would be an expensive undertaking, but it would help
to create new vibrancy and opportunities in the Parish.
The
Slip Hall, was restored during 2004. The original Hall was extended with a new
kitchen and toilet facilities. Whilst the Slip Hall had been restored it had
only a limited use. The other buildings continued to deteriorate and the full
complex of buildings became increasingly a financial burden to the parish, a
situation that was unsustainable.
In
2013 a refurbishment / development plan with business approach
was
developed for the Slip Hall and the potential of the other Parish Hall
Buildings was articulated. The underlying objectives of the refurbishment plan
were
1. To rejuvenate the near derelict buildings;
2. To make the buildings available to both the Parish and the local
community; and
3. To rent out the refurbished buildings to generate a future sustainable
income stream for the Parish.
The
main obstacle to refurbishment was that there were no funds available from the
Parish central funds. The income to central parish funds was gradually
decreasing, placing a greater pressure on the financial position of the parish.
In developing the refurbishment plan in 2013 it was set out from the start,
that any refurbishment had to be self-financing and no funding could be drawn
from central Parish funds. Any funding required had to be ‘created’. The initial plan was to
build on what facilities could be rented out and to reinvest the income
generated in the refurbishment of the all buildings.
In
2013 the fabric of the Slip Hall was upgraded, to a standard suitable for
renting out. A cost-based rental fee structure was developed for hourly rentals
to local community groups and individuals. The Select Vestry established a ring
fenced Buildings Fund to manage the financials for income generation and
payment of refurbishment. Through local advertising, word of mouth and
competitive rental fees, rental uptake increased quite rapidly. In 2015 a
Montessori school was started, using the Slip Hall on weekday mornings. To
date, there is nearly a 90% occupancy, including weekends.
When
the development plan was started in 2013, the Parish Hall Buildings complex was
a financial burden to the Parish. Electricity and gas bills had to be paid.
Building insurance for the deteriorating buildings was a further financial
liability. In 2013, the buildings complex was costing the parish approximately €8,000 per annum. At year end in 2019 the rentals of
the Slip Hall only, had generated a rental income in excess of €27,000. Whilst a 2020 income in excess of €32,000 was projected, due to the Covid restrictions
rentals have been down and we may see a return only of approximately €17,000. With the return of some ‘normality’ in 2021
the rental income can be quickly restored.
During
August 2017 the refurbishment of Slip House 2 was started. This involved the
removal of covering and invasive ivy growth, removal of the pigeon community
and their debris, Rentokil treatment of roof timbers, installation of
insulation, replacement of upstairs flooring timbers, restoring downstairs
lathed ceilings, repair of all sash windows, replacing the stairs, electrics,
plumbing and heating. All this with keeping the original character fully
intact. Now completed, it will be occupied by Jason Milea and his family
as from the 1st January 2021.
Refurbishment
of the Lower Hall was started in January 2020. From 2014 until then it had
functioned as a joinery workshop. Refurbishment was initially made possible
because of a generous anonymous donation. It was started with the replacement
of the roof timbers, preserving the original Bangor slates and restoring the
original chimney, replacing the missing chimney pots. Full refurbishment was
completed in October 2020 despite the limitations that Covid restrictions
imposed on its original scheduled progress. The Lower Hall will now be rented
out to a local enterprise from January 2021.
It
had been intended to continue with and complete the refurbishment of Slip House
1, the last refurbishment project. Unfortunately, Covid prevented the start of
this, as at the end of 2020 we are now faced with a challenging financial
situation. From March 2020 until
September all rental income instantly dried up and no Straffan Car Boot events
took place. Some income was restored during the autumn sessions but we are not
back to full income levels by any means. With the provision of a generous
anonymous interest free loan, all bills for the Lower Hall refurbishment have
been paid and there are no outstanding debts. Income is now being generated
from all the buildings in use, including some limited use of Slip House 1.
The
developments that had been envisioned were made possible not only through their
financing but largely also through the involvement of people. I would be ill
advised to name the people involved as failure of recall would quickly require
apologetic correction. Having said that, in any long term project such as this,
there are always a few drivers who have made things possible.
1. The Tús programme – This back-to-work Government
sponsored programme is always looking for work placements for its applicants.
The Parish forged a good working relationship with the local coordination
office, providing many applicants with a suitable one year placement. They all
had construction experience and great DIY skills, all of which were put to
great use in our refurbishment projects. Their skills and dedication made a lot
of things happen. Most applicants returned to employment after their placement.
2. The Straffan Car Boot event – Each year the car boot would generate approximately €7,000 - €7,500 for the Buildings Fund.
Monies from this were a significant contribution towards the refurbishment
costs. We thank the many people who religiously helped to manage and run the
event, who did the regular and ever popular home baking and those who kept the
grounds and facilities in great order. It is one of the most sought after car
boot locations.
3. Ken Denner – our walking Parish
encyclopaedia of the Parish Halls buildings and site, our site manager for the
Tús workers, negotiator for local deals, managing daily rental issues and ever
ready to help with any problem that arose. Both Valerie & Ken continuously
clean and tidy the Slip Hall, most important in the daily maintenance of the
Hall especially in the current Covid situation.
4. Linda Daly – who took on the
transformation of the Slip Hall in 2013 and prepared it to be fit for purpose
in renting it out to local groups, clubs and individuals.
5. Jason & Richard Milea – our joinery works specialists who restored all the sash windows in the
Lower Hall to their original fully functional condition. Jason is also
responsible for carrying out all the work of refurbishing Slip House 2 to its
original status.
6. Gordon Bass – our parish Hon Treasurer,
with his cautious, firm
but flexible financial direction and management, made funding
of the projects possible.
7. Bill Nicholson – who took
over the general administration and
rentals of the Slip Hall Buildings last September.
8. Rev Stephen Neill – our
rector under whose guidance, support, encouragement and
ever-ready-to-roll-up-sleeves the project was able to be realised.
As
our Hon Treasurer, Gordon Bass, has articulated during recent General
Easter Vestry meetings, the annual giving within the parish is not sufficient
anymore to adequately sustain the Parish finances and its annual financial
liabilities. There is a shortage of income from the general and regular giving.
With the near-completion of this 7-year refurbishment programme of the Parish
Hall Buildings, the Parish has now created a potential sustainable income
stream to compliment Parish funds when required, thereby helping to secure the
financial health and future of the Parish.
There
is now the opportunity to rent out the Parish Hall Buildings, manage them on a
business-like basis and maximise the financial returns that can be generated
from them. This requires a dedicated effort of rental administration, contract
management and an extensive maintenance program, all of which will become new
and added responsibilities of the Select Vestry. Currently, all the required
inputs are done by voluntary works of a very few dedicated parishioners to whom
we, as a Parish, should be very thankful. For the moment the financial security
and its future looks brighter and we wish all concerned in further developing
and managing this parish resource a good start and continued success in 2021.
Zoom
Coffee Events
Now that we are back in lockdown the Zoom Coffee &
Chat on Sunday mornings (as announced) and Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m., have
resumed - contact Rev. Stephen for log on details. They are very informal and an opportunity to
see each other and talk face to face in these challenging times. All are welcome. Thanks to our Rector for hosting these
over the last couple of months.
Thanks
.. To all those who have contributed items for the
parish newsletter - it is YOUR newsletter - so I’m always grateful for news. Editor.
Stamp
Of Approval - Disestablishment Of The Church Of Ireland
January, 1st marked the 150th
anniversary of the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland. On 7th January, An Post marked
this by issuing a special stamp. The
disestablishment of the Church of Ireland led to its transition from being a
privileged minority to being a confident and influential minority. The design of the stamp is based on the sun,
moon and stars panel in the Cathedral of Saint Fin Barre in Cork.
Tribute
Archbishop Michael Jackson paid
tribute to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Dublin, who announced his retirement. He
said “I want
to wish Archbishop Diarmuid Martin all that is best in his retirement. Archbishop
Martin has been a valued friend, both ecumenically and personally and I
have appreciated the mutual trust that we have enjoyed as Archbishops of
Dublin. From the day I arrived here as
Archbishop of Dublin, I felt welcomed by Archbishop Martin to a city
which is his own. Archbishop Martin is
a confident and compassionate exponent of the Gospel. He has helped to develop the ecumenical
landscape of the diocese. There is a
number of events each year which we share publicly including the annual Good
Friday Walk of Witness which we lead together from Christ Church Cathedral to
St. Mary’s pro
Cathedral. We regularly take part
together in Ecumenical Bible Week.” On
the announcement of his successor, Archbishop Jackson said “I also wish his successor,
Bishop Dermot Farrell, Bishop of Ossory, every blessing as he takes on
this work of service and leadership in Dublin.”
Our Rector comments on the parish face book
page - “A well deserved retirement after a ministry marked by
huge compassion for those on the margins - Having personally experienced his
genuine and warm ecumenism I give thanks for his generous character and true
Christianity - I pray he has a long and healthy retirement.”
As a member of the
Religious Press Association many years ago, I had the privilege of hearing Archbishop
Martin prior to his enthronement and was very impressed with his vision for
the Diocese and also wish him every blessing in his retirement - Editor.
Calendar
Of Events
February
Wed 17 Ash Wednesday - online - details to be
announced.
March
Mon 1 Closing
date for next issue of CSNL NEWS.
Sun 14 Mothering Sunday.
Wed 17 St. Patrick’s Day.
Who’s Who
In The Parish
www.cs-nl.org celbridgestraffannewcastlelyns@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/CSNLParish
Rector: Rev.
Stephen Neill 01-6288231 087-2328172
www.paddyanglican.com stephen.neill@gmail.com
Come to me, all of
you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
