Press Releases15 Jun 21

‘A beacon of hope for Dublin and the Church’ – Archbishop views St Patrick’s Cathedral roof restoration

By Archbishop Michael Jackson

On the afternoon of June 11 2021 I had the privilege of seeing first hand and close at hand the restoration work on St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.

From my time as Dean of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork, I know how easy it is for others to take for granted work on a roof and all of the accompanying opportunities that come with it to carry out restoration. When you have a build of scaffolding, you need to use it wisely and comprehensively.

From my time in Cork, I also know that what pulls our cathedrals through and keeps them in the mainstream of civic society and of religious life is the open–hearted and open–handed generosity of the whole community and of the State. I found, 20 years on, that the same altruism holds.

We in the Church of Ireland should treasure this generosity of spirit and generosity of giving. We should also honour it by our open–door response to the spiritual needs of today’s society, in all of its complexity and in all of its receptivity, as indeed I know to be the case in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, today under the guidance of the Dean and those who work with him tirelessly to this end.

The work done on roof, on stonework and on windows is of a quality second to none. This work is carried out at a height that the naked eye will never in fact see it. It is done as a labour of love and as an expression of commitment to future generations.

The fact that this work has been undertaken and completed – with all the requirements of social distancing and health and safety in place – throughout the time of Covid–19 – is a beacon of hope to the people Dublin and to the people of the Church of Ireland to whom the Dean of the cathedral, the Very Reverend Dr William Morton, is totally committed.

I want to thank the Clancy’s team  – and all with whom they have worked in the most challenging of times – and the St Patrick’s Cathedral team – for everything they have done. We on the ground must never forget that this work has been executed when many people thought that the churches and other places of Faith were closed. It is in this time that St Patrick’s as a building has been given new life and fresh energy.

With modest confidence and with understated assurance, St Patrick’s Cathedral has shown us a pathway of service in a time of darkness.

I know that the Cathedral, in a very particular way through this restoration, is keen – along with Christ Church Cathedral and its Dean – to point a way forward for everyone, who lives in Dublin and who visits Dublin, who wishes to cross its threshold. People worldwide do this as pilgrim, visitor and worshipper in order to meet God and be met by God in beauty and in simplicity.

+Michael