Parish Profile
Mullingar Union of Parishes
Dioces of Meath & Kildare
Deanery Trim
Mullingar Union of Parishes as presently constituted, is in existence since c. 1988
Churches still in use: All Saints’, Mullingar; St. Etchen’s, Killucan; St. Bigseach’s (Kilbixy), Ballinacargy; St. Nicholas’, Almoritia.
Mullingar is a rapidly growing town, recently designated “Hub” in conjunction with Tullamore & Athlone. There is an increasing number of people commuting to the greater Dublin area from the town.. It is the County Town of Westmeath. The congregation of All Saints’ reflects the transitional nature of the town. The “old stock” is gradually being replaced by recent arrivals in the town. Killucan & Kilbixy are typical rural churches with highly committed congregations. Parishioners of Almoritia use Kilbixy when Almoritia not available.
1. Geographical Area.
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The union is centered on the thriving Midland town of Mullingar County Westmeath. It’s made up of the parishes of All Saints Mullingar, Portnashangan, Moyliskar, Enniscoffey, Taghmon, Almoritia, Stonehall, Kilbixy (Ballinacargy) Leney, Kilucan, Castlejordan , Clonard, Rathconnel Kinnegad and Wilson Hospital school, Multyfarnham
Mullingar. is an important Industrial Midland town with a population of around 28,000 in this catchment area . It is rapidly expanding with many new developments largely due to the greatly improved rail and road links with Dublin. It is anticipated that the town will expand even more when road and possibly rail links are improved with the West of Ireland. The 2022 Census Figures for declared Church of Ireland members is 544 but with new estates been built and more Dublin commuters moving to the area it is estimated that this figure is on the increase especially in Mullingar and Kilucan.
Mullingar “An Muileann gCearr”
Built on the River Brosna and encircled by the Royal Canal, Mullingar is a thriving commercial centre. The town takes its name from the Gaelic “An Muileann gCearr” meaning the left hand mill and is associated with a miracle that occurred at the mill. The town of Mullingar was founded by the Normans over 800 years ago. The Norman settlement was a Manor and Borough with a castle, a parish church, Augustinian and Dominican monasteries, a hospital and a Frankhouse. The population of the borough was a mixture of Gaelic Irish and French, English, Welsh, Flemish and Breton immigrants. Mullingar became an important resting point for travellers and traders, and the recently discovered Augustinian graveyard provides evidence that Mullingar people undertook pilgrimages to Santiago De Compostela in Spain, some 600 years ago.
2. Centers of worship.
There are four churches within the Mullingar us union parishes serving approximately 220 Families in the area.
There is All Saints’ Church in Mullingar, Almoritia to the West, Kilbixy to the North West and Kilucan to the East.
2.1 All Saints’ Mullingar
All Saints Church occupied site in the town dates from 1814 although church occupied the site from the early 1200s the churchin more recent years has undergone considerable internal alterations to provide a large area for worship together with a meeting room, kitchen and toilets.
Services are held every Sunday as well as weekday services for Church holiday days, etc. the last Sunday of the month devoted to a family services which is very well attended.
The church houses a pipe organ of great magnitude with ready willing organists in the parish to play as required.
2.2 St Etchens, Kilucan
St Etchens is in located in Kilucan a large rural village approximately 15 km to the east of Mullingar. The church is well positioned on the main access road into the village when approaching from Mullingar.
Services are held every Sunday at 11:30 AM and a small Sunday school is held each week Recent renovations were made to provide extra facilities to the church . The church has an organ and again parishioners who are willing to play. There is also parish hall in the vicinity of the church
2.3 St Bigseach, Kilbixey
The church lies on the northern outskirts of the village approximately 17 km from Mullingar.
It serves the rural community from the surrounding villages. Kilbixy is of considerable historic interest. The present church was built on the site of a much larger church to serve the Baronstown estate
Services are held on a regular basis and the harvest festival alternates with Almoritia each year.
There is a small very loyal congregation in attendance.
2.4 St Nicholas Almoritia
The church in Almoritia is situated near the village of Rathconrath Approximately 15 km dueWest of Mullingar.
Currently it is licensed for four services a year, which includes Christmas, Easter and alternate Harvest Festivals with Killucan
The church services a very rural community which has a very loyal congregation in attendance whenever service is held there.
3. Worship
The 2004 Book of Common Prayer and the Church Hymnal are used throughout the Union.
Services an alternate between the Eucharist and Morning prayer in each of the churches. There are willing lesson readers in the churches two parish readers in
Kilbixey who take Morning Prayer to cover holidays, emergencies etc.
The union has a strong Ecumenical links with all the other churches in the area and frequently hold combined Ecumenical services in the area
4. Extra Curricular Activities
4.1 Active Sunday school small Sunday school is held each week in Kilucan
4.2 Regular Community Coffee Mornings the group is running the past and All Saints and it’s not presently. It is hope to become active again in the near future
4.3.
4.4 Whist Drives are held and All Saints Monthly throughout the winter and we look forward to continuing to do so
4.5 Parish 4 Part Senior Choir under the directorship of Bill McConnell
4.6 Bible studies has been a very popular activity held on a regular basis within the parish
4.7 Leaders Sunday – Children’s Services and Games in All Saints each Month
4.8 Lighten our Darkness by Numbers a Youth Project that has taken on legs in recent years in highlighting the need for climate change and creating an awareness in caring for Gods Environment .
5. Schools Within the Union
All Saints’ National School is a flourishing Primary School under church management.
Primary School: All Saints N.S. is situated in the ground of All Saints Church Mullingar. This is a 4 teacher school with additional assistance and has 122 pupils on the roll.
First class education is provided with many local national awards being achieved over recent years school recently celebrated at 60th anniversary of , the particular school building being located on the site within the church management director is generally involved and runs the school.
https://www.allsaintsnsmullingar.ie/
Secondary School : Wilsons Hospital School
A high proportion of pupils go on to Wilson’s Hospital School which is also in the Parish. This school is under Church of Ireland management and whose Trustees are Bishops of the Church of Ireland.al School is located in the Mullingar Union in Multyfarnham. It does however have its own in-house. Chaplin – Luke Hawkins
6. The Rectory
Gael Hill Mullingar Co. Westmeath .
This Formidable house is Located Behind the church grounds with access gate through back garden to the church grounds. This impressive house is set on its own private grounds in the heart of Mullingar town centre with large well maintained gardens and is gated .
The driveway is gravelled and has ample parking facilities for plenty of vehicles.
Recently restored for our outgoing Rector and his wife to live in when they took up their position in 2009 it has been modernised and well maintained is a 2 floor property with basement. The accommodation includes a Formal reception room, a well appointed dining room, a smaller study/TV Room a kitchen / utility and downstairs WC . It has 4/5 bedrooms upstairs 2 ensuite bathrooms.
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey over basement rectory, built c.1812. Hipped natural slate roof with clay ridge tiles, two central rendered chimneystacks and cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls. Square-headed window openings with cut stone sills and replacement windows. A number of sash windows retained to basement openings. Central round-headed doorcase to main façade (south) having a glazed timber door, a moulded cut stone surround with fluted keystone and a teardrop fanlight having linked chain motif. Main entrance reached by flight of cut stone steps flanked to either side by wrought-iron railings. Located to the south of Mullingar Town centre, in extensive mature grounds. Associated Church of Ireland church to the north (15310114).
Appraisal
An attractive early nineteenth-century Church of Ireland rectory, of balanced late-Georgian proportions, which retains its early character and a great deal of its early fabric. The form of this building is typical of early nineteenth-century rectories built in Ireland with the exterior decoration limited to the good doorcase. This doorcase is well executed and retains an unusually fine cast-iron fanlight. This building remains of particular importance in the locality for its original use as a Church of Ireland rectory, sponsored by the Board of First Fruits (c.1711-1833). Lewis (1837) records that this rectory was erected in 1812, at an expense of £1327, of which £100 was a gift and £675 a loan from the Board of First Fruits. This building forms an attractive pair of associated structures with the associated Church of Ireland church to the north (15310114) and is an important element of the built heritage of Mullingar. info extracted from Heritage Buildings of Ireland
7. Nature and outdoors
The Lakelands- – we are blessed with ample ammenities and beautiful scenic surrounding with many fabulous lakes on our doorsteps see the beauty on our local you can discover more on the website commissioned by Mullingar County Council https://mullingar.ie/nature-outdoors/
8. Arts and Culture 
Mullingar Arts Centre has become a major focal point for arts in the midlands over the last decade, attracting a variety of cultural endeavours. The Arts Centre provides a rich array of programs attracting some amazing talent, in theatre, opera, ballet, magic and comedy. The Arts Centre provides also provides a rich array of workshops in Art, Music, Dance/Ballet, Crafts, Drama (for adults, children, disadvantaged and those with special needs).
For more information or to book tickets for upcoming events see www.mullingarartscentre.ie
Appendix 1.
DRAFT ADVERT FOR APPROVAL
Vacancies: Clerical – Mullingar Union of Parishes (Dioceses of Meath & Kildare ):
The Mullingar Union of Parishes, seeks to appoint a Rector who is:
- A visionary leader who will help us continue to discern the way forward for our parish and develop clear lines of communication.
- A leader with proven experience and understanding of a progressive community.
- A leader who has a coherent vision to lead the whole congregation forward and is willing to try new ventures, using their organisational and delegation skills.
- An enthusiastic giver who can spot the talents and gifts already present in the congregation and empower others to use their skills for God building a strong ministry team.
- Someone able to share their biblical knowledge and understanding of God’s truth with people who are at different stages of faith and life.
- A deeply compassionate person who regularly makes home and hospital visits to those in need.
- A gifted preacher and teacher of the Bible and can relate to contemporary life and its challenges.
- A leader who is committed to the growth and development of ministry to young families and children.
- A dedicated person who is willing to work hard for our community and our surrounding area and build on the wonderful ecumenical relationships with other churches in the area for the greater benefit of our parishioners.
If that wasn’t enough we are looking for somebody who is positive and excited by Jesus who wants to spread Gods word and is impressed with our parishes Vision Plan thus far and wants to help us take it to the next level and incorporate their own ideas for change in Gods love and light .
If you think you have what it takes or could grow with us we would love to hear from you .
CLOSING DATE:
31 May2024, at 5pm
For more information
please contact: John Hales Treasurer & Parochial Nominator
Email: mullingarunionofparishes@gmail
Tel: 087 2709685