Spire Project Celebration. 30/05/2025 - Abbey Presbyterian Church, Dublin, Ireland.

June 4, 2025

The spire project is complete and as part of Abbey’s 160^th year we were joined by workers, friends, family and members of our congregation to celebrate this momentous occasion.

The scaffolding had covered the beautiful building and spire for over 18 years, earning it the nickname ‘the church with the scaffolding’. The unveiling of the completed work took place under sunny blue skies in late April and early May 2025. Allowing Dubliners and visitors passing by the church and looking up from O Connell street to marvel at this serene presence which dominates Parnell square, surveying its comings and goings, the place where many protest marches begin, making their own mark in changing Dublin. The place of the Hugh Lane gallery, Gate theatre, Rotunda maternity hospital, of schools, hotels, local businesses, where buses daily come and go, people on their way to work, shoppers heading into town, and tourists begin or end their tours. Whilst this area has seen its fair share of poverty and distress, the church is a strong reminder of renewal and hope bringing a presence of what that really means to the city and its people, by showing how lives are transformed, offering prayers and caring for the community, by being Christlike and sharing the good news, and to this end- all are welcome

Abbey Church, is also known as ‘Findlaters’ since Alexander Findlater offered the gift, paying to build the church in 1864, The congregation had been meeting in Mary’s Abbey and were seeking new accommodation, (later they amalgamated with the congregation in Abbey Street who joined them in this new location.)

Today the congregation have been generous with their sharing of space with other new congregations looking for a home and at present this includes an Orthodox Eritrean church and Holy Trinity Church, Romanian Pentecostal.

Reflecting the surrounding area today, Abbey presbyterian Church is pleased to welcome people from all around the world, they may be students in the city for their English courses, visitors, newcomers to Dublin who are looking for somewhere they can belong, for friends, a community or a place to know and seek God. The congregation has served the values and hopes of many generations of people living in and coming to Dublin.

If you are curious, you are welcome to join us on Sunday Mornings at 11am where you will be very welcome. The lovely ambiance of this special building owes its upkeep to the congregation who loving maintain it and who had the vision to ensure that the spire has been made safe and stable for years to come. As well as being a place of Christian worship, making a difference to the lives of people as they encounter faith and experience a life changing God, the space is available to groups and events. Abbey has hosted choirs, festivals, book readings, musical events and Film makers. The space is a quiet gem, accessible to the city centre and transport links

For this successful, joyous, sun filled celebration as Abbey emerged to mark the completion of the Spire Project , restored to its former glory with perhaps a little more confidence than before, Giving thanks to God and to all those who joined in to make this possible.

The event was sponsored by Old Music Shop in the Castle Hotel who kindly supplied the catering for the occasion.

Thank you to all those who attended May 30^th

Speakers: Emma Blain Lord Mayor of Dublin, Sean Harrington (architect) Trevor White (Little Museum, Dublin) Jonathan MacCumhail Bin Rosi (Castle Hotel) Alan Boal (Minister Abbey Presbyterian Church

Photographer: samboalphoto.com