Episode two - Final mass for Limerick city Methodist Church

So here we are in the sanctuary.

This, um, this building was, was erected in 1813, and it followed, um, about 70 years of, uh, a Methodist witness and worship here in the city, which dates right back to about 1749.

And, um, uh, very significantly, the very first Irish Methodist Conference was held here in this city, presided by John Wesley, who's the founder of the, of the Methodist movement.

So historically, it's a very significant city.

And, uh, so there was a thriving Methodist community back then-

Mm-hmm

... um, between the, the late 1700s, early 1800s.

And this church was built-

Mm

... by them, for them.

And it has been in continuous use ever since then.

Mm-hmm.

Um, and, uh, many, many generations of, of, uh, Methodists and also Presbyterians have met here, fellowshipped here, worshiped here-

Mm

... served the community here.

Mm.

And, um, sadly now, because of declining numbers and the, uh, the very high cost of refurbishing the, the, the, the buildings, sadly, we, we have to close.

Is there anywhere else in Limerick that people can go to practice their faith?

Well, yes, there are many places.

Um, interestingly enough, on the very same day, on Sunday, while we have a, a service, um, to close Christ Church in, in the morning and to celebrate all that has happened in the last couple of hundred years, um, that evening in the Castletroy Park Hotel, they-- a new Methodist church is being launched.

And it is going to be, uh, uh, quite different in its character and nature, but it will still be, uh, under the, the, the umbrella of the Methodist Church.

And, uh, so obviously anybody from within this church community-

Mm

... is, is, uh, is able to go and join that church community and to be part of what they're doing there.

Mm-hmm.