The Parish Church of Abbeyleix is set on a hill above the village over-looking the old main Cork-Dublin road. Its architectural merit is remarkable, especially in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, although that part of Laois is particularly blessed with fine Churches. The most striking features of the Church are the Altars and rails; a series of stained glass windows representing the Joyful Mysteries (south transept), Sorrowful Mysteries (apse), and the Second Glorious Mystery (geographical eastern gable); and a cycle of frescos including decorative elements and lettering 'Hoc Est Corpus Meum' in the apse and most notably the figure of Christ in Glory surrounded by His Evangelists recumbent upon the Sanctuary arch and the apparition of the Sacred Heart over the Sacred Heart Altar and the apparition of Our Lady to St. Dominic to give him the Holy Rosary over Our Lady's Altar. Notably, over each of the Altars cherubs are painted by the artist, Peter Rogers, supposedly using his children as models.
The Church also contains one of the most remarkable items of ecclesiastical furnishing in the Diocese, a set of curved Sanctuary rails in carrara marble installed in the 1990s to facilitate passage around the new Altar. They are certainly the only set of Sanctuary rails in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, probably the only set in Ireland that have been installed since the publication of the Missal of Pope Paul VI.
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9 comments:
Got to one at last. Great job lads. Good numbers despite the rain. Rosary at the beginning was totally appropriate. Sermon was right on the money. More of this sort of thing!
I agree, it was a good turnout with people braving some unpleasant weather. Its a lovely church and I particularly liked the frescos which are very fine.
I checked the little angel figures and they are really gorgeous. You can see how each has its individual personality. Just adorable. I love the delicate richness of the decoration overall. I would love to know if he decorated any other buildings or where I could see his work.
I pass through Abbeyleix on the way to Tipp a lot. I never realised how lovely the church was. Must stop and say a prayer next time I'm passing.
I stopped off here after the last time you put up pictures. It's an amazing space full of peace and beauty. They really should have a sign or something for it off the road.
This is a temple of God and a house of prayer. It looks like a little bit of heaven on earth.
There isn't a single aspect of this event that doesn't look fabulous. Could I suggest that you include details of the Masses that are forthcoming as well as reports of those that have already taken place? Regards,
Isobel
Its not so rare to find a coherant gothic church in the old country but really rare to find a romanesque one. Patrick's Purgatory has a real innovative basilica but just too big for it to grab the imagination. Nothing I seen can pick up the genius of Cormac's Chapel on the Mount of Cashel. The Cathedral of Learning picked that style as the high point of Irish Civilisation for their Irish room. Good to see a romanesque revival in this country but it normally goes for purist classical or mission-style. Why is nobody inspired by Durham or Cashel or Cluniac Cathedrals and Abbeys?
The article states: "Notably, over each of the Altars cherubs are painted by the artist, Peter Rogers, supposedly using his children as models." This is indeed true. Peter was my great-grandfather, and so one of those cherubs is my grandmother (Frances Hiney, who lived in Portlaoise)! My aunt Maureen (one of Frances's daughters) could recognise them. Such beautiful work.
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