ROOTS

A brief HISTORY of Our Church

'Mighty oaks from little acorns grow' can be applied to our Church and parish. Back in 1965 Newtownpark had grown extensively in the early 1960s due to housing development and there was need to develop a new parish to serve the needs of the fast increasing population around Newtownpark. The new parish was created from the existing parish of St. John the Baptist, Blackrock.

The Daughters of Charity made the land available for the site of the Church and the adjoining school. The site for our new Church was blessed on 17 January 1965 and the first turf turned. The new Church of the Guardian Angels at Newtownpark Avenue was solemnly blessed and opened by the then Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev. Dr. McQuaid on 5 November 1967.

'Mighty oaks from little acorns grow'

DESIGN

The Church is modern in design and construction, but also provides a link with tradition. The construction consists of reinforced concrete frames, copper roof and reinforced concrete, louvered infill panel walls with alternate stained glass window infills. The main exterior finishes are natural concrete and rendering. The copper fleche and High Cross outside rises to a height of 110 feet over the intersection of the Cruciform plan. This latter houses the bell chimes.

Internally, the main walls are finished in plaster with natural concrete brick in the Sanctuary area. The unostentatious interior with the rhythm of the structural frames and the angular forms and shapes of the roof and walls give an overall simple and dignified effect.

While the design of the Church was completed by the architect, Mr. Charles D. Ellison, B.Arch., A.R.I.B.A before the Second Vatican Council, the design was revised and the high altar positioned at the intersection of the cruciform plan to conform to the requirements of the revised Liturgy (Vatican II) whereby Mass could be celebrated facing the laity.