Fundraising drive to aid restoration works at landmark church

A landmark church in Cork City is at risk of crumbling unless it receives an urgent cash injection.

A major fundraising drive has been launched to aid repairs at the early Gothic-style St Vincent’s Church in Sunday’s Well, which opened in 1856.

For the past three years, preventative maintenance work has been carried out to weatherproof the south face of the church, thanks to grants from Cork City Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

However, following a recent plaster fall from the clerestory on the upper portion of the church, an engineer’s report showed serious deterioration in the upper windows and surrounding plaster work. As a result, the church authorities were forced to close a portion of the building in the interests of health and safety.

It is estimated that €60,000 will be needed to carry out the restoration works. The city council has promised to chip in €10,000 under the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme.

St Vincent’s has continued to be a focal point of worship for the Catholic community of Blarney St, Sunday’s Well and the surrounding areas, under the guidance of the Vincentian Community.

Cathleen Bowen, chairperson of the fundraising committee, said St Vincent’s was not only a place of worship, however.

“It is an integral part of the built heritage and culture of our city. It contains some of the finest examples of stained glass windows in Europe. The windows on the north and south aisles of the church were created by Mayer & Co of Munich.

“The great eastern window depicting the life of St Vincent was executed by William Wailes of Newcastle-on Tyne,” she said.

The stations of the cross were painted by Alexander le Dien of Normandy and gifted by the Abbé Gillooly to his brother Laurence, then a Vincentian priest in Sunday’s Well.

“It was to this church that Hans Conrad Swertz first came as organist in 1879.

“He was the maternal grandfather of the late Professor Aloys Fleischmann, whose influence on music in Cork City is immeasurable.

“Now this beautiful building is at risk.

“We are now appealing to present and past members of our community to help us in the restoration of St Vincent’s Church, thereby honouring the memory of those master craftsmen who created such a beautiful building.

“We would also appeal to anyone in the wider community who is interested in our city’s heritage, for their assistance with this project,” Ms Bowen said.

* Donations may be made to Gurranabraher Credit Union, account number 99-10-07 86027070.