Church of Ireland in search of a congregation for restored cathedral

A Church of Ireland minister is in search of a congregation for a historic church soon to be reopened as part of a State- sponsored €1.27 million conservation project.

Renovation work on the 12th century St Fachtnan's cathedral, Kilfenora, in the Burren, is almost complete. It is expected to open for regular church services in the autumn.

However, the Rev Bob Hanna is worried that there are not enough members of the Church of Ireland community in the area to warrant the church opening for weekly services.

"The church is opening in the autumn, but I would question, does anybody want it?"

The Rev Hanna does not want to close the church to regular services because of its strategic importance, being the most northerly Church of Ireland church in Co Clare.

However, "we don't have a congregation", he says.

The Church of Ireland may not be able to afford the running costs associated with putting on regular services. The Rev Hanna says its resources in the county were already stretched by serving churches in Ennis, Newmarket, Spanish Point and Kilkee.

The Rev Hanna's remarks come after census results showed that the number of Church of Ireland members had more than doubled in Clare in the past decade, from 771 to 1,825.

"It's a puzzle," he says, "because where are they? There is a small number in north Clare, but as for the rest? Are they hiding between grikes in the Burren because I haven't come across them."

He says St Fachtnan's will probably be used for special events. "It is a lovely building and we have a very happy relationship with Dúchas who have carried out very good work renovating it."

Mr Roger Johnson of the Ailwee Caves is one of what he describes as "a handful" of Church of Ireland members in north Clare. "Most have died, but it would be a tragedy if the church in Kilfenora ceased to be a place of worship as people have worshipped there for a thousand years."

The cathedral dates from between 1170 and 1200 and work on it has been continuing under the watchful eye of Government conservation officers over the past year, with phase one completed last July.

The building is regarded as having great historic significance and according to the manager of the nearby Burren visitor centre, Mr Paddy Maher, will provide a great boost to the area when the renovation is completed.