Rosemount to celebrate anniversary of local church

The community of Rosemount will mark the 180th anniversary of the celebration of the first mass in the Church of St Thomas the Apostle on Sunday morning.

Parishioners will make a 'Pilgrims of Hope' walk at 9.30am from Suntown Cross, Kearney's House and Ward's Cross arriving for mass at 10am during which Fr Jimmy Murray will speak on the history of the church.

Land for the church was purchased from Richard Nagle in 1843, the building taking two years to construct.

"The original church was located in Ballagh and was just 22 metres in size, so had limited space for a congregation. In the great spirit of hope that arrived with the Catholic Emancipation it was decided to purchase a new site to build a bigger church which welcomed its first parishioners in 1845," Fr Jimmy said.

The inaugural mass, said by Fr Hope, took place on Christmas Day 1845.

"When it welcomed its first mass goers the church was just a basic building with no floors, no ceiling, no heating, but it was constructed from cut stone which was extremely impressive at the time. It was functional for the parishioners at the time," Fr Jimmy added.

In time there were gradual improvements to the church with furnishings and 60 temporary seats added between 1873-1882, a ceiling installed in 1883 and a marble high alter constructed in 1899. A wooden floor replaced the original sand base in 1916.

"The 1930s was a decade which saw a lot of fundraising by the local community to allow for further improvements in the church.

“A much-needed heating system was incorporated, while stained glassed windows which remain to this day were also added," Fr Jimmy explained.

Following mass on Sunday morning, the sixth class pupils of Rosemount National School will also present their project on the history of the church.

It is one of two church in the joint parish, with Tubber, in the Diocese of Meath.