God bless the work and the workers! Critical repairs at HTW, October 2025

 



Week One of repairs to destabilised ceiling, 

Holy Trinity Church, Westport, October 2025




Enjoy this unique video by our good friend Fr John Kenny. 
We continue to be grateful to Fr John and the people of St Mary's Church
for their kindness and generous hospitality since the closure. 



Dear Friends of the Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes,


You will be interested in this initial update on the critical repairs to the ceiling of Holy Trinity Church, Westport. These began on 20 October, after a long and challenging  period (almost nine months) of planning, permission-seeking, and preparations. The works are at last underway and are progressing well. 


Some of you have already been able to visit and see the extent of what is being undertaken. The feedback from those on site is encouraging, and the expectation is that, once this phase of work is complete, the congregation will be able to safely return to the church, albeit with limited seating capacity. This photograph, below, taken on 24 October, shows the covered pews beneath the areas of the ceiling currently being stabilised. These essentially will be the pews available to us — the front rows on each side of the central aisle — accommodating approximately 100 people. 

 




It is anticipated from feedback from those on site, and subject to confirmation by the relevant professionals upon completion, that the remaining section of the church, minus a section over the main entrance and font, will remain closed off of necessity, with ropes or cordons, until the central section of the ceiling is also repaired and stabilised. In effect, the entire ceiling requires re-stabilisation in due course. This will, of course, represent a major project, requiring both funding and time to secure the necessary resources. The parish will then too, as always, be grateful to sponsors and donors, while engaging actively in fundraising and grant-seeking. In the meantime, we will be able to return to our much-loved church, which is excellent news. 


Those who have visited will have noticed the white dots across the ceiling bays and above the sanctuary — these mark the points where the stabilisation process has been applied. We are assured that once the ceiling has been repaired and secured in this way, it will remain permanently safe, which is very good news. The building, once reopened, will therefore be safer for worshippers, visitors, tourists, pilgrims, and all who use the premises. The new line markings around the church will also improve safety for both drivers and pedestrians.


Overall, this represents significant and encouraging progress. 

 

 

Thank you on behalf of the congregation and parish for your continued interest, support and involvement. 


Special thanks to the Sandford and St Philip's Choral Union Dublin, who spent this weekend with us in Westport and performed Fauré's Requiem, as a fundraising concert. The total amount raised will be announced in the next two weeks, as donations continue to trickle in. 



With every good wish,

 

Revd Suzanne Cousins

on behalf of the Select Vestry and Parishes  










Pastoral care and enquiries:  


Revd Suzanne Cousins 

Aughaval Group of Parishes, 

United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, 

Church of Ireland

 

Tel. 083 800 3233   

Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org
Aughaval Parishes' Website  aughaval.tlk.ie

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes






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