Crookstown Church

by John Duffy

Around 1720 a plot of ground was procured at Crookstown and the church was build. The building was first roofed with thatch and sometime later was re-roofed and slated.

During the rebellion of 1798 a battle was fought at Pike Bridge. Malachy Delaney, a native of Calverstown led the insurgents. He was escaped to America. 20 Years Later he returned, he was involved In an accident on his way back to Kildare. As he was dying he made a will and gave his money to the priests of Crookstown to have seats made for the church.

The first church at Crookstown was a Cruciform shape and served the parish for up to 40 years. Cardinal Cullen administered Confirmation to 197 Children on August 7 1854. This old church was later turned into a boys' and girls' school. All that now remains of it is the Little Theatre.

Building work on the present parish church started on May 3 1860 and was completed until 1867. Although the building was not completed until May 3, 1867, the first mass was offered in it on 1864. The bell in the tower was hung on Hallows Eve, 1867. The builders took the precaution of putting a piece of leather on the striker in case the vibrations of the bell would damage the tower. The cost of the building was £1500.

It was build in the Celtic Romanesque tyle. In has a graceful doorway of recessed arches in granite that are reminiscent of the beautiful doorway on the ancient Cathedral of Clonfert. The granite pillars are from Ballyknockan quarries, and it is believed they arrived, one at a time on a special type of four-wheel wagon, drawn by two horses.

Among the many improvements to the church since its erection are the four beautiful, stained glass windows, one of which contains a portrait of Cardinal Cullen. These windows cost £ 500 when erected during Fr Carberry's pastorship 1882-1899. The marble communion rails, with a brass gate in the centre, a replica of the one in Armagh Cathedral, were erected in 1905. The memorial pulpit to the Reverend A. Clarke, Archdeacon Brady and Fr Thomas Carberry, was erected a year later 1906. The tiling on the front of the altar was laid in 1925 at the cost of £360.

Under Vatican II the altar rails, brass gates and pulpit were removed. The present lectern was constructed from portions of the pulpit, as was the one in Ballymount. McCarthy was the architect over the building of the church, over a period of 30 years he build 60 churches in the diocese, including Kilcullen and Roundwood finishing up with Clonliffe College.

Major renovations have taken place in the church over the past few years under the guidance of Fr Dempsey. The church was re-consecrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Connell 2004.

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