Participating Parishes in the Diocese of Dublin & Glendalough

THE WICKLOW AND KILLISKEY GROUP OF PARISHES
This group of parishes serve an extensive area of central and eastern Wicklow County extending from the coast to the foothills of the Wicklow mountains,110 sq km in total. There are two churches, open each Sunday: at Church Hill Wicklow and also at Nun’s Cross Ashford.
Each Parish has its own Select Vestry. Both parishes have experienced considerable growth in population during the last few years and the trend is expected to continue, though at a slower rate.

At present there are about 420 families on the parish data base, of which about 280 are at the Wicklow end of the parish.

The congregations at normal morning services are usually in the 70-100 range in Wicklow and 20 to 30 in Killiskey (The numbers can be much higher when there are special services or when the School children are involved in a major way.) Early communicants at 8.00 am. number about 6.

Wicklow Parish is centred upon Wicklow Town itself. It is a busy parish with a Primary School (The Glebe National School with 230 pupils) and a Protestant Secondary School (East Glendalough School, with 390 pupils drawn from a wider area). Both schools use the Church for school’s services and other occasions. There is a small community hospital and a newly built nursing home (Blainroe) where Holy Communion is celebrated on a monthly basis.

Killiskey Parish is in a rural setting based around Nun’s Cross church on the edge of Ashford. The parish also has a Primary School (Nun’s Cross National School – 105 pupils) and a Sunday School. There is a very active Social Committee, organizing regular social events throughout the year.

Parish Organisations are run jointly. Youth work has been shared between the two parishes: often taking place in East Glendalough School. At present the pre-teen group and youth club are in abeyance. There is a Sunday Club for 3-10 years attached to each church, meeting twice monthly. The children go out of the Morning service to attend. There is also a Family Service each month in each church, and Joint services throughout the year often feature the Unity Gospel Choir, which has its home base in Nuns Cross Church and an inter-church membership of over 70.

The Girls Brigade is a joint C of I/ Methodist company. There are Guides and Scout Troops with close Church association in the town. The Parish Mother and Toddler Group (open to all) meets on a weekly basis. In addition the Mothers’ Union meets monthly but has an elderly membership.

Parish Giving has been quite healthy though supplemented by vigorous fund raising events. The economic downturn has seen a decline. However, major work on both churches has been undertaken in the last few years and all has been paid for!

At present there is a Rector, and a Parish-Based diocesan Lay-Reader. A retired Cleric gives generously of his services and the Dioceses plan to appoint an NSM with specific remit to encourage development at the Killiskey end of the Group. Parishioners read lessons, lead prayers, and assist with the administration of Holy Communion

TULLOW PARISH
The Parish of Tullow, Carrickmines is situated in the southern suburbs of Dublin. It includes the villages of Cabinteely and Foxrock as well as large parts of the Carrickmines and Leopardstown areas. The parish consists of 180 households of which a high percentage are in the active retired category. However, there is also a healthy mix of younger families resulting in active youth facilities including Sunday and Youth Clubs. We anticipate that Church 21 will be helpful in discerning God’s will for the future direction of our parish and to discover ways in which we may be more effective in our outreach both to existing parishioners and also the many in our area who have no church affiliations.

Posted by Brigid Barrett on 9 May 11

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