Bicentennial Vision

2004 was a year of celebration for St Peter's Church.

St Peter's celebrated 200 years of worship and involvement in the community as it looked to the past and planned for the future.

Continue further down to read an excerpt from the Civic Reception held in June and the results of the Art Competitions

CIVIC RECEPTION - 23 JUNE 2005

On the 23 June, Portlaoise Mayor, Kathleen O'Brien hosted a civic reception in the County Hall to celebrate the bicentenary. She presented a citation which reads as follows:

We, The Mayor and Members of Portlaoise Town Council, hereby accord a CIVIC RECEPTION to the Parish of St. Peter's Church, Portlaoise to honour the bicentenary of St. Peter's Church 1804-2004.

We are pleased and privileged to salute and honour the Parish of St. Peter's Church, Portlaoise on its bicentenary. It is with particular pride that Portlaoise Town Council has decided to accord this civic reception to your parish in celebration of 200 years of worship here.

This Church, partly designed by James Gandon, was erected on the Great Green of Maryborough and consecrated in 1804. We recognise that it holds a special place not just in the hearts of the Church of Ireland Congregation, but of our entire community.

The Church is a house of prayer and also an important part of our history and heritage. One former rector, the Revd William Mosse, was the father of Bartholomew, founder of Dublin's Rotunda Hospital, Europe's first dedicated Maternity Hospital.

We congratulate the parish on your celebration of 200 years of worship at this beautiful church which also serves as a powerful reminder of your standing as a community. We welcome your continued involvement in, and engagement with, the community as a whole through your work with many and varied organisations.

We salute your positive and ongoing role in serving the spiritual, social and cultural needs of your busy parish, including our hospitals and other institutions.

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ART COMPETITIONS - RESULTS

"Impressions of St Peter's Church, Portlaoise" Launched by Senator David Norris at a Bi-centennial Ball in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise on 6th February 2004,  the artistic endeavours of both adults and school children were rewarded at the official opening of the Exhibitions on 21st September 2004 in County Hall. Submissions for the children's competition were received from a number of schools in Laois and Dublin and the standard of entries was extremely high with many prizes awarded, thanks to the generosity of Laois Education Supplies and Portlaoise Credit Union.  As a result of the competition a calendar has been published in which the children's paintings, along with prayers composed by the children of Maryborough National School, feature. Equally impressive were the entries received for the adult category.  Well known artist, Jock Nichol, who was one of the judges, explained that it was the panoramic vista of the church over the rooftops, as seen from County Hall that secured artist, Sviatlana Zhohal from Belarus first prize.  This perspective is not the traditional view, but it depicts St Peter's Church as being at the very heart of the community. Second prize was equally interesting - a pencil drawing by Sean McNamara of one of St Peter's windows.  Third prize went to Margaret Deegan for her oil painting of the church. Arts Officer Muireann Ni Chonaill paid tribute to the artists, all of whom took so well to the theme and together make such an interesting exhibition running alongside the focus week of bicentenary celebrations.