By Dan Walsh
St. Mary’s Church of Ireland in Bunclody is marking its 250th anniversary this Friday evening with a Choral Evensong in the church at 6.30pm. Afterwards, a book launch will take place at 7pm in the adjacent Sunday School.
To commemorate the occasion, the church asked Oliver Deacon to write a detailed history. His book, Celebrating 250 Years; St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Bunclody, Co. Wexford, will be launched by Professor Kevin Whelan of Clonegal and the University of Notre Dame.
Right Reverend Canon Trevor Sargent, Rector of Bunclody Union of Parishes, will chair the event. Everyone is invited, and the publication will be available at a discounted price, followed by a reception.
Celebrating 250 Years; St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Bunclody, Co. Wexford by Oliver Deacon will be available for purchase at the launch for a special introductory price of €20. Proceeds from the sale of the book will go directly to the Church Spire Repair Fund.
BRIEF HISTORY; Newtownbarry (the old name for Bunclody) was constituted a parish on May 3rd, 1776, when 22 townlands were taken out of Templehambo.
On May 4th, 1770, the Hon. Barry Barry give a lease of one acre for a churchyard for the parish. A church was built at that time and was subsequently enlarged. Afterwards additions were made to the memory of the Hall-Dare family at nearby Newtownbarry House, who also presented a new organ.
Another significant occurrence happened on June 28th, 1802, when John Barry gave a fee farm grant for the parish at a yearly rent and the Glebe House was built there in 1808.
Source; Ferns Clergy and Parishes by Rev. James B. Leslie published by The Church of Ireland Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd, DUBLIN, 1936.
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