Union of Parishes celebrating 200th anniversary of St Etchen’s

A big programme of events has been put together for the bicentenary of one of Westmeath’s oldest churches – St Etchen’s in Killucan.

Built in 1813, the church stands on the monastic site founded by St Etchen, Bishop of Clonfad, in the 6th century AD, and this Friday May 17, the bicentenary weekend celebrations begin with Songs of Praise in the church at 8pm, led by the Meath Diocesan Choir.

On Saturday May 18, the Family and Children Fun Day runs from noon to 2pm at the Parish Hall, and on Sunday May 19, the Bicentenary Thanksgiving Service is at 11.30am, with the special preacher Archdeacon Andrew Pike from Canada.
This will be followed by a special parish lunch in the Bloomfield House Hotel at 2pm (a limited numbers of tickets is available from Jean Kilmartin).

Rev Alastair Graham, of the Mullingar Union of Parishes said: “We invite anyone who has a connection in any way with the church to join us for the celebrations – we know that everyone in the Mullingar Union of Parishes will support each of these special commemorative events.”

The programme of events for 2013 was launched in February when historian Ruth Illingworth spoke on the church.

The building contains some beautiful stain glass windows, the most important one of which is the East Window above the Holy table, the work of Sarah Purser. Fitted in 1926 by William Price, it depicts the Good Shepherd.

The organ is a two-manual pipe instrument and other pieces of interest are the lectern and pulpit.

The lectern, known as The Eagle, is beautifully carved and brass mounted. It is six feet tall and was presented by the Vandeleur family in 1881.

The pulpit is also a fine example of former day craftsmanship in carved oak and was presented by the D’Arcy family in 1904.

The fine 13th century baptismal font was dug up in the churchyard by the Rev William Falkiner, rector of the Parish from 1892 to 1910. It was cleaned and furnished with a cover, pedestal and base, and set up for use in the newly restored church of St Etchen.

A vault underneath the church contains the remains of nine of the Pakenham family, Earls of Longford. The last burial there was that of thee Major Hon Frederick Beaucham Pakenham in 1901. Also buried there is Col Pakenham, who led the British forces into the Battle of New Orleans.

www.mullingarunionofparishes.net