Westport-Dugort Union: Making progress, with God's help!
We're making progress, by God's grace and with God's help!
Progress, thanks, and encouragement
Holy Trinity Westport, St Thomas's Dugort, Holy Trinity city Inishbiggle, plus the closed but still consecrated St Thomas's Church, Knappagh
The Office Bearers and Select Vestry of the Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes (- Holy Trinity Westport, St Thomas's Dugort, Holy Trinity city Inishbiggle, plus the closed but still consecrated St Thomas's Church, Knappagh) are pleased to report recent and considerable progress in the area of essential maintenance and repairs in the churches, over the last few months. This progress is thanks to a small army of workers and volunteers, and thanks to the regular, ongoing and generous giving by parishioners and visitors towards the upkeep of the churches.
Most recently, in September and October, St Thomas's Dugort churchyard has had a good tidy-up - grass-cutting and strimming - after the spring and summer months of heavy growth. We hope that the bees and other insects and creatures, and biodiversity generally, have been supported even a little by the more considered restrained approach to graveyard maintenance which in the Church of Ireland we are committed to.
Similarly at Knappagh, we were grateful to friends and parishioners who return home to Mayo each year, for again helping with graveyard maintenance and some painting of railings in late summer. Thank you!
Indoors, St Thomas's Dugort is looking much fresher for doors and the porch having been repainted this year, and we are grateful there too to those who have contributed both practically and financially. On top of this, St Thomas's hall and cottage have both had some basic repairs and painting carried out, to floors, windows and doors.
Holy Trinity Westport, had something of a facelift in August with the painting of the vestry door and of the previously messy south wall, the repair of a longtime broken toilet window, and with the creation of a temporary solution to the broken and missing window (near the pulpit).
Complimenting this interior improvement is the repainting of two of the ironwork doors and, externally, of downspouting at the front of the church. The remaining iron door (north side) and downspouting are now being painted to arrest rust and decay that was causing deterioration.
Alongside this, behind the scenes, gutters are being cleaned, indoor cleaning continues to be kindly undertaken by volunteers, leaves are being swept up around porches and doors, and in the midst of all this, and most importantly, visitors are being welcomed and so are experiencing the kindness and hospitality of the God we love, worship and serve.
This is not to mention the major piece of work accomplished in October - the replacing of the defunct lightning conductor. Our thanks to the HTW church wardens (and in particular the Rector's Church Warden) for organising the work, and to Collins Construction and Steepljacks, who battled earth, wind and water to accomplish this important task!
And on Inishbiggle Island, the condition Holy Trinity Church has been close-to-transformed over the last two-three years - its repaired floors and doors, fixtures and fittings, and the grounds carefully cleared of invasive plants which were threatening to swamp the church altogether. Again, this transformation is thanks to a dedicated and motivated RCW with a God-given vision, a small team of supporters and volunteers, and a joiner-craftsman who went many extra miles (- sea miles!) to bring the envisaged restoration project to reality and completion.
All this care and attention towards the buildings and grounds of which we are stewards is inherently important, for obvious physical and practical reasons, and even more, as a reflection of the care and attention of God for us and for his beautiful created world.
Let's "keep on keeping on", in making progress in this and every aspect of our parishes' life!
One-time donations
You can securely give towards these costs and the upkeep of the churches using your phone or electronic device using the link or QR codes (below) which will direct you to the parishes’ iDonate pages.
Regular giving
Regular giving can be by means of the weekly envelope system (-information on request), or by standing order.
Tax refund on donations
If you are a tax-payer, a tax refund on your donation can be made to your parish at no additional cost to you.
For help or more information, please contact one of the Hon Treasurers (contact details on request) or the Rector (details below), or see
https://aughaval.tlk.ie/2025/11/giving-towards-upkeep-of-churches.html .
Thank-you +
QR code and link
Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes
- Holy Trinity Westport, St Thomas's Dugort, Knappagh, and Holy Trinity Inishbiggle.
https://www.idonate.ie/donate/cause/WestportDugortParishes
Westport-Dugort Parishes*
(Info. Babs Strutt, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request)
*Westport-Dugort Union of COI Parishes are registered as a charity with the Charities Regulatory Authority under the Tuam, Killala and Achonry charity No. 20015237 and the Revenue Commissioners No. CHY 7241.
Sponsorship invited:
If you are able to contribute to the fundraising efforts towards the next stage of repair works to 'HTW', or if you would like information on the project, please contact the Rector (aughaval@tuam.anglican.org) or the Hon Treasurer (bstrutty@gmail.com), or use the link or Westport-Dugort QR code (above).
Thank you for all donations and support received to date.
Revd Suzanne Cousins, Rector
Tel. +353 83 800 3233 / +44 77 1303 7447
Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org
Aughaval Parishes' website aughaval.tlk.ie
