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Last Thursday night in Navan Library saw the launch of Mary Gannon's short history of the Church of Ireland in Kilmessan. It covers the period of from 1731 to the present day, while acknowledging the existence of what was probably a much earlier church on the same ground. While as it says on the cover it is a short history, it is nevertheless very well researched and referenced throughout and for history buffs one for the shelves. It includes a number of illustrations and touches on domestic affairs, vicars who administered in Kilmessan, renovations through the centuries and an appendix that includes the burial records of the congregations from 1890 to 1963. The present church was built by the Preston family of Swainstown and the last divine service was on Trinity Sunday 1966 when Canon Perry officiated. Some time in the early seventies it became a branch of Meath County Library and Jimmy Tully who was a Labour Minister at the time was on hand for the opening ceremonies. This if my memory serves me well was in connection with European Heritage year or something like that. Anyway it closed after a few years and today it is the centre of the Kilmessan Bowls Club. Mary Gannon's book retails at €5 Euro and was printed by Excel Print in Navan. The cover illustrations of the Church are by Michael O' Brien.and it was John P Preston I believe who did the honours at the launch.
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