St John the Evangelist Church Heritage Week Event

RHS members are participating in this event.

St John the Evangelist Church is the parish church for the Church of Ireland parish of Coolock, covering not only Coolock village, but also Kilmore, Ardlea, Beaumont, Darndale

St John's Church, Tonlegee Road (at TLC, formerly Smurfit's) was built in 1760 on the site of an earlier church. This earlier church was dedicated to St Brendan, which indicates that it probably was founded by St Brendan or one of his followers. The church has two artifacts from the 9th century - a granite stone cross and a lower millstone from a horizontal water-mill. Archaeological finds during excavations both on-site and nearby, have pointed to early christian occupation.  We have drawn up a full programme for the afternoon, encompassing not only the history of the church and of St Brendan, but also an insight into Celtic christian spirituality. The afternoon will finish with a short service using liturgy used by the Community of St Brendan the Navigator, an Anlican goup based here in Ireland.

In the adjacent Parish Hall, along with exhibits of historic photos, the DCC River Santry Greenway Project team will be present to explain some of the outcome of the scoping exercise to 'rewild' the river as well as creating a greenway and cycletrack from Santry to the coast at the Bull Wall Biosphere. Raheny Heritage Society and Clontarf Historical Society will be there to chat about both local history and family history (genealogy) and maybe encourage you to join in to help others to keep local and social history alive. Some local history books will be on sale.

Admission is free. Refreshments will be available to purchase during the afternoon. The full timetable of talks and presentations is as follows:

Venue: Coolock Church of Ireland, Church of St. John the Evangelist, Tonlegee Road, Coolock
Date: Saturday, 12th August, 2023
Church open: 2.00 - 5.30pm
Admission Free

2.15PM "St Brendan The Navigator: A Global Sensation!" Illustrated talk By Lindy Taylor, local historian and tour guide. (Booking for this event through eventbrite.ie)

3.15PM Plans For The Santry River Greenway and Cycle Track, by the Dublin City Council River Santry Project Team

4.00PM Guided Tour of Church and Graveyard. Tour led by Douglas Appleyard

5.00PM "Learning From The Stained Glass". Tour led by The Rector, Rev. Kevin Ronné, showing work by Childes, Sarah Purser of An Tur Gloine, the studio of Bourne-Jones and Morris, and Meyers of Munich

5.30PM "Celtic Spirituality And Prayer" with David Reynolds, Community of St Brendan the Navigator

Other Participants & Displays:

Photos of Historic Interest including Coolock and Raheny

9thC Mill Stone & Cross
Pictures from a Drone survey and a Geophys Survey
Raheny Heritage Society - Family & Local History Information and book stall 
Clontarf Historical Society - Monthly Local History Talks
Santry River Greenway Project - Display of updated Plans for River, Greenway & Cycletrack

Tea & Coffee, Refreshments

> Further information ֎ www.coolock.dublin.anglican.org <