Power of Prayer: Church to raise funds with bible reading

A GROUP of north Dublin parishioners are hoping to literally “raise the roof” through non-stop readings from the King James Bible. The readings will go on day and night over the next four days until Holy Thursday evening.

This year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, which organiser Mervyn Fogarty said “is supposed to have had a bigger impact on the English language than Shakespeare”.

This year is also the 130th anniversary of All Saints Church in Raheny. The church was built by Guinness heir Lord Ardilaun, who is best-known for giving St Stephen’s Green to the people of Dublin.

All Saints has a more recent claim to fame, having played host to the wedding of Bono and Ali Stewart in 1982.

Feargal Quinn launched the marathon reading session with his own 15-minute contribution yesterday afternoon and the last reading is expected to finish up at about 6pm on Thursday.

All are welcome to come along and read a passage of the King James Bible. Several 15-minute reading slots are still available.

While participation is free, donations would be accepted. Visitors are also welcome.

The fundraising is part of ongoing efforts to raise €250,000 for urgent work on the fabric of the roof, particularly work on the crypt, where the family of Lord Ardilaun are interred.

Work began last year and is being carried out in stages as funds allow.

The work includes roof repairs to the crypt and replacement of lead to affected areas of the main building.

As well as repairs to the roof, the work includes patching and repointing masonry adjacent to the crypt as a priority.

It also includes the removal of a chemical sealant on the stone of the belfry and the repair and cleaning of masonry throughout.

The church was commissioned by Lord Ardilaun to a design by George Coppinger Ashlin, a follower of Pugin and a colleague of his son.

It emphasised Irish materials, including Wicklow granite with limestone dressing and Irish marble for the interior columns. The steeple was reputedly modelled on that of Salisbury Cathedral.

Construction, by Collen Bros of Dublin and Portadown, began in 1881, and was completed in 1889, at a cost of about £9,000.

The current contractor is Dunwoody & Dobson, advised by heritage architect Paul Arnold.

The authorised King James Bible is an English translation by the Church of England of the Christian Bible.

It was begun in 1604 and completed in 1611.

Rector of All Saints Church in Raheny, Rev Jim Carroll , listens with Gavin Fogarty (6) and his brother Simon (3) as Senator Feargal Quinn reads from the Bible as part of a four-day event.