The historic church of St Nicholas at Cove Street in Cork is no longer a place of worship. It was deconsecrated a few weeks ago in a ceremony that did not attract much attention, but in its way it was a sad occasion.
The inner-city church was once alive. Built in 1850, it served 2,000 parishioners when the Protestant community was more vibrant in that part of the city. In latter years, numbers had dwindled to the point where a decision had to be made.
That fell to the Church of Ireland's Commission on Church Buildings, established to adjudicate on whether churches in various locations throughout the State should be retained.
The venerable Church of St Nicholas had reached its time and had been on the market for a year. It was sold at auction recently for an undisclosed sum. The commission, however, has a view on what former church buildings should not become.
Accordingly, when contracts are being drawn up, clauses are inserted to ensure that such sanctified places will not, for ins tance, be turned into discos or worse.
Mr John Buttimore, the assistant secretary of the Representative Church Body, was involved in the transaction. It was, he said, a poignant moment when the contracts were signed. Ancient records show that there was once a parish of St Nicholas in Cork in the area. Now, like the church, it is no more.
The Church of Ireland community, though, is prospering.