Kilkee Methodist Church - concert with harper Janet Harbison
This is an ecumenical ministry intended to find new ways of relating in faith to people in County Clare. Currently, we focus on Ennis, Kilkee, Kilfenora and Tuamgraney.
Ennis
There was a talk last year on faith, ethics and spirituality every month, covering a wide range of subjects. On Sunday 16 October over a hundred people joined us for an evening ecumenical celebration hosted by the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev. Dr Ian Henderson. see the Celebrating Faith page. We currently have a small contemplative prayer group meeting each month for people who practise silent prayer.
Kilkee
The summer saw a range of ecumenical services and talks with a spiritual aspect, including harp concerts. Next year’s events are to be planned shortly.
The Methodist Church in Geraldine Place is well- known to generations of holidaymakers who spent time at nearby Clar Ellagh, which closed just a few years ago.
On Sundays throughout the year, services are taken in the church by the West Clare Christian Fellowship at 11 a.m. Ring 086 3455 961 for further details.
Kilfenora
We opened this ancient church on the first Sunday of the month during 2009, and offered times of prayer, reflection and music, and a place to sit and reflect, for local people and visitors alike. The theme for summer 2010 was Praying with the Book of Kells. The church was opened for several ecumenical services led by the Clare Pioneer ministry in the summer of 2011, and a talk was given on its history on 31 July. Work in Kilfenora is linked closely to the Clare Christian Heritage walks, Ar bhealach na Naomh, which have taken place the last three years on medieval pilgrim routes.
The site is a landmark for visitors to the Burren, with its collection of high crosses and the ruins of the 12th century cathedral. The nave retained its roof and in the early nineteenth century was reworked as the local Church of Ireland parish church. It contains two hearths, and a three-tier pulpit, together with box-pews and regular pews. A guide to the church and locality will available in spring 2012.
See also the prayers from the ancient and folk traditions of Ireland, and reflections on them, on our Prayers webpage.
Tuamgraney
There were ecumenical services and spiritual talks here in the summer, again some of them connected to the spiritual walks, and some connected to Heritage Week at the end of August. There will be a service here at the end of the 2012 ecumenical walk at Pentecost, and other events are under discussion for the nearer future.
Saint Cronan’s church dates from the tenth century and is the oldest church in continuous use in Ireland. The back part houses the East Clare Heritage Centre.
Services in people’s homes
There are a number of people who belong to the Non-Conformist traditions and who live some distance from a church, or for some reason cannot attend frequently. We are developing a system of being church on the move, taking church to their homes or to places in their locality on a regular basis. We plann to return in autumn 2011 to meeting in Tulla once a month. These informal services are open to all. Further details from the minister.
A pioneer ministry of the Methodist Church in Ireland.
