Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord

The Trinitarian Abbey Church, the Roman Catholic parish church in Adare, Co Limerick, seen from the Dunraven Arms Hotel this afternoon (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2018)

Patrick Comerford

I am in Adare, Co Limerick, for a few days this week, taking part in the annual residential clergy conference for priests from the Diocese of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert and the Diocese of Tuam, Killaloe and Ardfert.

Earlier in the day, I was taken on a short journey through the grounds of Adare Manor, which owes much of its original architecture to the whims and designs of the great Gothic Revival architect AWN Pugin.

But I am staying at the Dunraven Arms Hotel, which takes its name from the Earls of Dunraven, who lived at Adare Manor for generations.

It could be said that the Dunraven Arms is located ecumenically, situated between the two parish churches here. From my room I can see the former Trinitarian Abbey church. It was restored in 1811, and is now the Roman Catholic parish church of Adare. But on the other side of the hotel, I have an equal view of Saint Nicholas’s Church, the Church of Ireland parish church of Adare.

At the end of our evening prayer at this evening’s session we prayed the traditional Third Collect at Evening Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer:

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord;
and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint Nicholas’s Church, the Church of Ireland parish church in Adare, Co Limerick, seen from the Dunraven Arms Hotel this afternoon (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2018)