Mayo church celebrates 225 years of worship and community
Foxford Parish will mark its anniversary with an ecumenical service led by the Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
Straid Parish Church in Foxford celebrated 225 years of continuous worship and service to the local community with a special ecumenical service led by Bishop Michael Burrows, Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe on Sunday, November 1.
Located on Foxford’s market square, the Church of Ireland building was constructed in 1801 through parochial assessment at a cost of £400. Its tower and gallery were added in 1826.
The appointed architects were Welland and Gillespie, and the design reflects the influence of the Board of First Fruits. During the 19th century, the Bingham family, Barons of Clanmorris of Newbrook, owned Foxford and were responsible for the church’s structural construction.
One of the building’s most notable features is its East Window, designed by William Francis Dixon of Franz Mayer & Company, Munich and London.
The window was installed in 1908 by John Bingham, 5th Baron Clanmorris, in memory of his parents. It remains a treasured feature of the church and a reminder of the generations who have contributed to the life of the parish.
For 225 years, Straid Parish Church has been a place of worship, prayer, celebration and remembrance, witnessing the changing lives and stories of generations in the Foxford community.
The anniversary service provided an opportunity to reflect on that heritage while looking ahead to the church’s continuing role in the community for generations to come.