Mayo church marks 225th anniversary

A church that has stood at the heart of Foxford for 225 years will celebrate its long history and continuing place in the community with a special ecumenical service this Sunday.

Officially known as 'Straid Parish Church', the Church of Ireland on the Market Square in Foxford has been an iconic landmark for generations. Its anniversary will be marked with a service of thanksgiving at 4.30pm on Sunday, November 1, in the presence of Bishop Michael Burrows, Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, who will preach to the congregation.

For Reverend Canon Andrea Wills, the occasion is an opportunity to reflect on generations of worshippers who have passed through the church’s doors, remember those who helped shape its place in the community, and look towards its future.

“There is a sense of peace here. There has been continuous worship here since 1801, since the church was built. During Covid times there was no service, otherwise, there has been a service every Sunday where God is worshipped, the scriptures are read, and we pray for our world,” she said.

People from across the community, of all traditions and religious backgrounds, are warmly invited to join the congregation for the anniversary celebration.

That openness reflects the close ties Straid Parish Church has with the entire Foxford community, including its relationship with the Catholic Church.

Reverend Andrea and Father Padraig Costello, parish priest of Foxford, are regularly invited to local events as representatives of their respective churches and as respected figures within the community. From the annual Blessing of the River, to Candles to the Sea and Riverfest, both churches hold a special place in the life of the town.

For many generations, the annual Harvest Thanksgiving Service at the Straid Parish Church brought people together. Reverend Andrea remembers how the Sisters of Charity who lived in Foxford would attend the service and also send produce to the church.

“There has always been a special connection with everyone here,” she said.

That sense of connection sits alongside a history that stretches back more than two centuries.

Built in 1801 through parochial assessment for £400, the building's tower and gallery were added in 1826. Its design, by appointed architects Welland and Gillespie, reflects the Board of First Fruits.

During the 19th century, the Bingham family, Barons of Clanmorris of Newbrook, were responsible for the structural build.

One of the church's most distinctive features is its East Window, designed by William Francis Dixon of Franz Mayer & Company, Munich and London. John Bingham, fifth Baron Clanmorris, erected it in 1908 in memory of his parents.

Standing inside the building, it is difficult not to reflect on the generations who have gathered there for worship, celebration and remembrance. Its original architecture, the light coming through the beautiful stained-glass window, and the copy of the Holy Bible from 1837.

There is a grounding sense of peace when you step into the church, surrounded by more than two centuries of history, the stories of generations who have passed through its doors and the prayers and worship that have filled the building since 1801.

For Reverend Andrea, the church's history is a source of pride, as is the Church of Ireland's inclusiveness and its ability to bring people with differing perspectives and opinions together.

“I was brought up in the Church of Ireland, I just love all that it stands for. It is embracing, it's welcoming. It is a 32-county Church,” she said.

She explained the Church of Ireland's annual General Synod brings representatives together from across the island, where people of differing political views can come together to discuss matters of worship and church life.

The upcoming anniversary is also a personal one for Reverend Andrea, as she reflects on a religious journey that began long before she was ordained.

Originally from Dublin, she married her husband Charles from Mayo and settled in the county. Her involvement in the Church of Ireland began in childhood, with her father singing at their church in Dublin and her family closely involved in church life.

After settling in Mayo with her husband Charles, Reverend Andrea became a regular member of the Church of Ireland congregation in Foxford. Having attended services every Sunday, she was eventually asked to read a lesson during worship, marking the beginning of a journey that would lead her to the ministry.

The date of that first reading, the first Sunday in Lent in 1987, is recorded in a book that is kept in the church.

“I then became a Diocesan Reader, which meant I could take services anywhere in the diocese, if they were stuck, to lead morning prayer and those types of services,” she said.

Despite taking on such a role, ordination was not something she had envisaged for herself.

The Church of Ireland had voted in 1990 to allow women to be ordained into the priesthood.

“I never dreamt I would be ordained,” Reverend Andrea said. “It was probably the best thing that happened to me in many ways. It concentrated my mind. I ended up in the theological college before I knew it. God does move in mysterious ways.” 

Reverend Andrea completed three years of training for the non-stipendiary ministry at a theological college in Dublin. Her class, which began training in 2006, consisted of 15 people, seven women and eight men.

She was ordained a deacon in Killala Cathedral in June 2009 by Bishop Richard Henderson and was priested the following year at St Michael's Church in Ballina.

Her ordination brought together people from different Christian traditions, something she remembers fondly.

“There were more Roman Catholic priests at my ordination, because the Church of Ireland is such a small community, which was wonderful really,” she said.

In 2013, she was given pastoral oversight of the Foxford Church by Bishop Patrick Rook.

“I was probably ready for it at the time. It meant that my heart was very much connected to the people who come to this Church,” she said.

“I have the most wonderful people supporting me and the Church in Foxford, Church wardens and everyone, and they are all getting excited about how they are going to decorate the church for this special service.” 

Looking to the future, Reverend Andrea hopes the church will continue to provide a place where younger generations can feel involved and welcome.

The congregation is starting a Sunday school and is keen to give young people opportunities to participate in services.

“We like to keep the young people involved, whether it's ringing the bell, or doing a reading when appropriate,” she said.

As the congregation in Foxford prepares to mark 225 years of worship, the anniversary offers a chance to reflect on the generations who have cared for the church, and also the role it continues to play in Foxford.

For Reverend Andrea, the building is more than a reminder of the past. It remains a place of worship, fellowship and connection, with an important place in the life of the community for years to come