Dear parishioners and friends,
We are delighted to have Archbishop Michael Jackson with us to take our service this morning and the Revd Gordon Linney will be with us on Sunday 6 September.
Vacancy coverage: My recent appointment as Rural Dean of the Monkstown North Rural Deanery has given me a renewed appreciation of the challenges that parishes face during an interregnum, although I must confess that I have never been particularly fond of the term vacancy, because a parish is never truly “vacant.” The Church’s ministry continues, even when there is no incumbent..
To help maintain a regular presence in the parish, Revd Kevin will visit the parish office each Thursday at 10.00am to meet with Liz. Parishioners are very welcome to call in if they would like to meet him.
If you, or someone you know, would appreciate a home or hospital visit, please contact the parish office or Revd Kevin directly on 086 0406256 or by email at [email protected].
The Knox Memorial Hall is a distinctive and historic landmark and has served the local community for over a century and remains an important feature of the village streetscape. It has been used for a wide range of activities including church functions, community meetings, educational programmes, social gatherings, concerts, exhibitions, and local cultural events. The Hall is now only occasionally used since the refurbishment of the Old Schoolhouse. The Select Vestry has decided to sell the Hall and the “For Sale” sign is now up, with the funds from the sale going towards the maintenance of the Church. Select Vestry
Heritage Week 2026: We had a successful week between Saturday 15 and Sunday 23 August, welcoming visitors to the church and schoolhouse each day. In the schoolhouse they enjoyed the period classroom, memorabilia, educational artefacts and school photographs; while others explored the church, with a search for lions and animal footprints to follow entertaining children. Over the nine days 277 people came to the schoolhouse and 243 to the church. A huge thank you to everyone who helped welcome our visitors to both buildings and made tea and coffee for them, many of you taking on more than one session, and to Tom for looking after the schoolhouse and its visitors as well as fielding questions for the extra hours it was open on the Museum of Childhood Ireland Event Day. Without all of you we could not have taken part in National Heritage Week. A sincere thank you to Liz and Chris for the work they put in and to Roy for setting up our schoolhouse exhibition and assisting with preparing the church. Your help is enormously appreciated.
The Museum of Childhood Ireland shared the schoolhouse hall with their vintage toy display and exhibition which included dollhouses, rocking horses and other collectables. They were very happy with their Keepsake Roadshow Family Day in the Knox Hall on Saturday 22 August with those who came enjoying a lovely relaxed day talking to the experts, exploring the exhibits, enjoying the entertainment, listening to the lectures and much more.
Art Exhibition: Our Annual Art Exhibition will take place from Friday 28 August from 7.30 – 9.30pm, Saturday 29 from 10.30am – 5.30pm and Sunday 30 August from 12.30 – 5.00 pm in the Schoolhouse.
Blessing of the Animals: Our annual pet blessing service will take place in Monkstown Church on Sunday 30 August at 3:00pm. The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Blue Cross Animal Charity will join us. Please do come along, with your pets and join us for this celebration with all its associated chaos and fun!
Music in Monkstown: Heritage Organ series will take place in Monkstown Church at 3pm. Admission is free. Voluntary contributions welcome.
13 September – David Leigh
20 September – Ronán Murray
27 September – David Adams
Music in Monkstown Festival 2026: Monkstown Church from 1 – 4 October. Tickets available on Eventbrite and at the door. www.musicinmonkstown.ie
Culture Night: Monkstown Parish Church will be open for visitors Friday 18 September from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. Please do come along and visit with friends and neighbours. We hope to have some music also during the evening.
Lunchtime Recitals: The Lunchtime Recitals continue in Monkstown Parish Church on the Wednesdays in October from 1:10pm to 1:50pm. All are most welcome. There will be a basket for donations at the door and proceeds will be divided between the performers and church funds.
30 September: Daren Lane, Piano—from Mozart to Chopin & Debussy
7 October: Fergal Caulfield, Organ—Bach and friends
14 October: Cezar Oranski, Clarinet, Jude McCann, Piano—Schumann, Saint-Saens, Sarasate
21 October: Young Artists: Meabh McConnell, Guitar and Tiantian Gao, Piano
28 October: Alan Krishna, Mexican Tenor, Hilary Dungan, Piano—Arias from Gluck to Verdi and Mexican Art Songs
4 November: Siun Milne, Violin, Billy O’Brien, Piano—Beethoven and Prokofiev
Schoolhouse Coffee Dock: The coffee dock area in the schoolhouse will be closed from 23 July until the beginning of September. It will still be open on Wednesday and Sunday mornings after the 10:45 services.
The Sick: We continue our prayers in the parish for all who are unwell and the recently bereaved. We also remember those who are in hospital currently and those who are recovering at home from serious illness. Our hearts go out to all who need our continued prayers and support, and we pray that you may have a real sense of the love that surrounds you.
General Financial Support: Thank you for your continued financial support of the parish and for remembering that our work of ministry continues week after week. We appreciate your generous and supportive giving. There is a collection at every service in the church. Our Bank of Ireland bank details are: Account Name: Monkstown Parish Church Business Current Account. Account no: 86014381. IBAN IE 17 BOFI 9011 8386 0143 81. If any of our envelope subscribers wish to talk to Ruth Carnegie, she may be contacted at 087 4339367
With love and kind regards
