Photos from Harvest on Inishbiggle

 

Harvest Thanksgiving 2025 on Inishbiggle


What a lovely welcome yet again on Inishbiggle, on Sat 25 October, when the sun shone in spite of the forecasted changeable weather. 


Chris Gibbs, 'LLLM' (/Parish Reader, centre), 

with fellow LLLMs Kenn and Brad, Castlebar


The happy congregation after the Harvest Thanksgiving Service



Welcome to Holy trinity Inishbiggle!


The congregation (pictured) enjoyed a Harvest Thanksgiving service of extra significance, with LLLM (Local Lay Liturgical Minister /Parish Reader) Christine Gibbs robing and assisting with a service for the first time since her licensing by Bishop Michael Burrows, Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe. Congratulations to Chris, and thank you to everyone for supporting her. Thanks to the little group for the lovely time and good conversation after the service over tea in the school. It was good to celebrate (albeit belatedly) two birthdays, Annie’s and Jeremy’s.






Thank you also to Dave for the introductory music (Andalusian) and for introducing us to Ulysses (the dog!). Last but not least to ferrymen Michael and Tim for taking us safely across to the island and back in the currach and providing help with transport to the church with our bags and birthday cake! It was a joy to find the church in such good order, the roof having recently been repaired following storm damage, and work to the interior of the church being apparent in the reconditioning, redecorating, restoring and repairs of floors, doors, and various fittings. 

Sincere thanks to all who have been supporting the restoration and repairs to the church building and in particular to Chris for the phenomenal amount of work she has undertaken since the beginning of the project two years ago, along with islanders, tradespeople and professionals. Also to James Kilbane who helped kickstart the process by his fundraising concert in memory of Christy Henry (RIP), and to our Diocesan Architect who has been advising and supporting in the background.

Buíochas le Dia!



Tom, Kenn, before the service



Dave who played an introit to the service


Francis


View from the vestry




Leading the intercessions
Chris, Brad, Kenn



Decor by Rector's Church Warden



Dave, Tom, Michael, Francis, Kenn




Brad Thien, Christine Gibbs, fellow LLLMs, 25 Oct 2025






Photo by Brad Thien (Castlebar)






Jeremy to the rescue, when a car wheel got stuck in soft ground




Recently fitted up-to-date fire extinguishers


Biggle church, looking spic 'n' span, with some temporary flooring
thanks to the greatly valued work of able joiner Stephen





Catching the early afternoon light



Beautiful Biggle Church (Holy Trinity Inishbiggle),
a place of prayer and pilgrimage



Island produce, or perhaps from Lavelle's







Michael, friend and ferryman




Holy Trinity Inisbiggle



Easter Garden, the Empty Tomb,
a special feature, created recently and much admired 





                    Simple beauty



Harvest bunny





Tom Smith, Westport




Saying farewell for now to Michael and Tim, ferrymen








Ulysses the dog was happy to be welcomed inside



Brad, Castlebar



Kenn and Chris at the school




Christine and Kenn, after the service





Repaired, treated and rehung vestry door



Pastoral care and enquiries: 
 
Revd Suzanne Cousins, Rector  
Email: aughaval@tuam.anglican.org  
Tel. 083 800 3233  
Aughaval Parishes' Website aughaval.tlk.ie
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes 




Popular posts from this blog

In memoriam: Linda Bourke

Image
  "Safe in the arms of Jesus." It is with great sadness that we share with you the news of the death of our friend and sister in Christ, Linda Bourke, faithful Westport parishioner (Holy Trinity Church), on Sunday 9th March, peacefully in Mayo University Hospital.  May she rest in peace and rise in glory.  Notice and arrangements can also be found here:   https://rip.ie/death-notice/linda-bourke-mayo-westport-587759 The death has occurred of Linda Bourke, Riverside, Clogher, Westport – peacefully.   Predeceased by her parents Alex & Frances & infant sister Elizabeth.   Deeply regretted by her sister Iris, extended family, relatives, neighbours, friends & her Westport Country Market Community.   AT REST   Reposing at McGing's Funeral Home (F28 RX58) on Tuesday (Mar 11th) from 11:30am until 12:30pm. THE PUBLIC QUEUE FOR ENTRY INTO THE FUNERAL HOME WILL NOW BE FROM THE SHOP STREET DIRECTION.   Funeral arriving to Holy Trinity Cemeter...
Read more

Return to Inishbiggle, Sat 15 February 2025

Image
  It was especially joyful for a few of us from mainland Mayo to step foot again on Inishbiggle on 15th February, having been prevented by the weather from sailing on our last attempt at the end of November 2024. While on this occasion it was lashing in Limerick, wet in Westport, and raining cats and dogs in Castlebar, the sun was splitting the clouds gloriously on the approach to beautiful Biggle. Also uplifting was to arrive at the church and on entering to find it looking, if not transfigured, transformed - for example, with its newly-stripped and repolished pews, clean floors, doors, harmonica and walls, and a close-to-spotless vestry into the bargain. Hats off and enormous thanks to the church wardens for the hours of painstaking work - truly a labour of love for this precious and important place of gathering and worship, emanating from a sincere love for God and his people, of all faiths and persuasions. Holy Trinity Inishbiggle conveys the message “Come on in! There’s plenty...
Read more

Inishbiggle blessings, on the Eve of St Bartholomew's Day, 23 August

Image
  Return to Inishbiggle  A happy day was enjoyed on Saturday 23rd August when a group of ten people, which included some from Castlebar, Westport, Galway, Kilkenny and Dublin - made the short crossing by currach from Doran’s Point to ‘Biggle’.  As always the passengers were well cared for by ferrymen Michael and Tim, and we were delighted and privileged to have, amongst others, Valerie Raitt, Diocesan Co-ordinator of Spiritual Tourism and Pilgrimages, join us for the trip. Church wardens Chris and Jeremy, outside the old national school, with the wardens' recently acquired wand.  Just disembarked: the 'crew', minus two Tom Smith, a member of the Holy Trinity Westport congregation   Photo by Susie Fry, Castlebar Michael, ferryman Tim, ferryman Valerie Having been welcomed at the pier by islanders and Holy Trinity Inishbiggle church wardens, Christine Gibbs and Jeremy Holt, we took the short stroll to the church. A service of Prayer and Praise (a 'Servic...
Read more