Welcome to the Church of Ireland community in Clare. With the exception of Killaloe Parish on the east side of the county most of Clare is administered by the Drumcliffe (Ennis) Union and Kilnasoolagh (Newmarket).
Architecture:
St Columba’s Church, Ennis is the central church of a six church grouping. It was built in 1871 under the ministry of Canon Philip Dwyer, a historian of Killaloe Diocese.
This fine example of "Decorated Victorian" architecture by Frances Bindon makes for an impressive and popular worship building which still retains an aura of past times with excellent acoustics for music
Its fine two manual organ was installed in 1873 and after a major overhaul in the early 1990's still sounds well when our excellent organist Nigel Bridge lets loose. St Columba’s is a popular venue for artistic musical events in the town.
The ceramic figures of Saints biblical and Irish in the chancel is perhaps the most outstanding work of art in the church, produced in the l930‘s by Catherine Amelia O’ Brien, a leading Irish artist who worked mainly with stained glass and who grew up in Durra House on the end of town.
The oils of Brigid Ganley, formerly O’Brien but not related, also enrich the chancel with their Old Testament prophetic theme. The Blood window, installed in memory of the late General Bindon Blood is a marvellous addition to the West End.
Worship:
Worship takes place mainly on Sundays at 11.30am and Saints Days. The congregation is usually limited to 20 people on an average Sunday, increasing somewhat on popular tourist times. A fairly regular pattern is Holy Communion on 1st and 3rd Sundays and Morning Prayer on 2nd and 4th. The Rector, Rev Canon Bob Hanna, has as an assistant Priest, the Rev Patricia McKee-Hanna, his wife and Diocesan Lay reader Mr Stan Evans also assists with Morning Prayer.
Enquiries to Rector, Canon Bob Hanna, Tel . 065 68 20 109 or 087 63 23 080, e-mail-rchanna.ennis@eircom.net
Hon. Secretary, Mrs Marjorie Normile, Tel.6821689.
Other Churches serviced within the Group are:
Kilnasoolagh Parish Church, which stands on a very ancient Christian site and contains the burial place for Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions. The Church was built under the patronage of the Inchiquin O’Brien’s of Dromnoland Castle and the Fitzgerald’s of Carrigorran. The ancient steeple was demolished by lightening in 1993 and reconstructed by the parishioners under the ministry of the Rev Raymond Doherty with the generous support of the whole populace of Newmarket-on -Fergus.
The Church contains some very valuable artefacts and monuments linked with the O’Brien and Fitzgerald families and its stained glass is particularly attractive. Mr Edwin Bailie, a Parish Reader and Honorary Secretary has written an attractive history of this important church. Service times are 11.30am with Holy Communion twice per month.
Christ Church, Shannon sited at the entrance to the airport is a modern functional building set up as an inter-denominational worship centre for the Protestant traditions—Presbyterianism, Methodism and Church of Ireland. Methodist and Presbyterian worshippers combine under a joint ministry based in Christ Church, Limerick led at present by American husband and wife team, the Rev David Range and the Rev Cheryl Jane Walters. Worship at Shannon alternates between Church of Ireland and Methodist on successive Sundays...Starting time is 10.00am...Christ Church, Spanish Point, is one of the smaller scattered Church of Ireland communities. Worship is weekly between July and September at 9.45am and 2nd and 4th Sundays otherwise throughout the year.
St Fachnan’s, Kilfenora alternates with Spanish Point on 1st and 3rd Sundays at 9.45am. This pre-Reformation Cathedral is set in the midst of a fascinating ecclesiastical history linked with the Burren. Unlike the Roman Catholic tradition, which places Kilfenora within Galway Diocese, the ancient Diocese of Kilfenora is set within the amalgamated dioceses of Limerick and Killaloe.
St James Church, Kilkee is placed at the West End of the town. It is attended by folk from the hinterland of Kilkee and Kilrush. It has a small and aged congregation, which is greatly enhanced over the holiday periods. Worship time is 11.30am.
