THE OLD GARRISON CHURCH IN NEWBRIDGE COUNTY KILDARE
The Old Garrison Church, Newbridge: A Legacy of Faith and Community
Note: There is an art piece on the exterior roof of the building and it attracted some debate back in 2015 when the building was being restored.
Located on the main street in Newbridge, the Old Garrison Church stands as a testament to the town's military and spiritual heritage. Built in 1859, this Gothic Revival structure initially served as a Methodist church within the sprawling Newbridge Barracks. Its presence catered to the spiritual needs of the soldiers and their families stationed there.
Following the barracks' closure, the church found a new purpose in 1927 when it was acquired by the Droichead Nua Town Commissioners and transformed into the Town Hall. This adaptive reuse ensured the building remained a vital hub for the community, hosting civic events, meetings, and celebrations for many years.
Today, the Old Garrison Church continues to hold historical and architectural significance, reminding us of the town's intertwined military and religious past. It serves as a poignant reminder of the once-thriving Methodist community in the area.
Newbridge Garrison: Echoes of a Military Past
The Newbridge Garrison, once an important military complex, played a pivotal role in the town's development. Established in the early 19th century, the barracks housed various cavalry regiments and contributed to the town's economic and social growth.
Here is a detailed description:
A chapel-cum-school surviving as an interesting relic of the Newbridge Barracks complex with the architectural value of the composition confirmed by such attributes as the elongated rectilinear plan form; the construction in a "sparrow pecked" deep grey limestone with sheer dressings demonstrating good quality workmanship; the slender profile of the openings underpinning a "medieval" Gothic theme with those openings showing pretty margined lattice glazing patterns; and the high pitched roof shorn of its once eye-catching bellcote.
Having been reasonably well maintained, the form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the restrained interior where a Queen post roof construction pinpoints the engineering or technical dexterity of a chapel-cum-school making a pleasing visual statement in Main Street.
NOTE: The laying of the foundation stone for the chapel-cum-school was performed by General Sir James Charles Chatterton (1794-1874) who, noting that 'divine service had previously been performed in so imperfect a manner in the riding-school' and welcoming the news that the chaplain would soon 'expound pure Christianity in [a] church', regretted that 'he could not compliment the authorities on their selection of a fitting place for they selected the worst possible site' (Saunders's Newsletter 1st April 1859). The last of the British Army evacuated Newbridge Barracks in May 1922 and the vast site, assessed as surplus to the requirements of the National Army of the Irish Free State, was parcelled off with the chapel-cum-school adapted as a town hall by the Newbridge Town Commissioners in 1927.
However, with the changing tides of history, the garrison eventually closed its doors, leaving behind a legacy etched in the town's fabric. While much of the original barracks has disappeared, remnants like the Old Garrison Church and some boundary walls offer glimpses into its past.
Note: There is an art piece on the exterior roof of the building and it attracted some debate back in 2015 when the building was being restored.
Located on the main street in Newbridge, the Old Garrison Church stands as a testament to the town's military and spiritual heritage. Built in 1859, this Gothic Revival structure initially served as a Methodist church within the sprawling Newbridge Barracks. Its presence catered to the spiritual needs of the soldiers and their families stationed there.
Following the barracks' closure, the church found a new purpose in 1927 when it was acquired by the Droichead Nua Town Commissioners and transformed into the Town Hall. This adaptive reuse ensured the building remained a vital hub for the community, hosting civic events, meetings, and celebrations for many years.
Today, the Old Garrison Church continues to hold historical and architectural significance, reminding us of the town's intertwined military and religious past. It serves as a poignant reminder of the once-thriving Methodist community in the area.
Newbridge Garrison: Echoes of a Military Past
The Newbridge Garrison, once an important military complex, played a pivotal role in the town's development. Established in the early 19th century, the barracks housed various cavalry regiments and contributed to the town's economic and social growth.
Here is a detailed description:
A chapel-cum-school surviving as an interesting relic of the Newbridge Barracks complex with the architectural value of the composition confirmed by such attributes as the elongated rectilinear plan form; the construction in a "sparrow pecked" deep grey limestone with sheer dressings demonstrating good quality workmanship; the slender profile of the openings underpinning a "medieval" Gothic theme with those openings showing pretty margined lattice glazing patterns; and the high pitched roof shorn of its once eye-catching bellcote.
Having been reasonably well maintained, the form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the restrained interior where a Queen post roof construction pinpoints the engineering or technical dexterity of a chapel-cum-school making a pleasing visual statement in Main Street.
NOTE: The laying of the foundation stone for the chapel-cum-school was performed by General Sir James Charles Chatterton (1794-1874) who, noting that 'divine service had previously been performed in so imperfect a manner in the riding-school' and welcoming the news that the chaplain would soon 'expound pure Christianity in [a] church', regretted that 'he could not compliment the authorities on their selection of a fitting place for they selected the worst possible site' (Saunders's Newsletter 1st April 1859). The last of the British Army evacuated Newbridge Barracks in May 1922 and the vast site, assessed as surplus to the requirements of the National Army of the Irish Free State, was parcelled off with the chapel-cum-school adapted as a town hall by the Newbridge Town Commissioners in 1927.
However, with the changing tides of history, the garrison eventually closed its doors, leaving behind a legacy etched in the town's fabric. While much of the original barracks has disappeared, remnants like the Old Garrison Church and some boundary walls offer glimpses into its past.
THE OLD GARRISON CHURCH IN NEWBRIDGE COUNTY KILDARE