A Snippet of Lucan History

Listening to the Gospel (and sermon) in St. Mary's Church recently, I was reminded of a newspaper article I read online about the unveiling of the stained-glass window, The Transfiguration, on the wall at the Sacristy. This window was donated to the parish by the Moran Family of St. Edmundsbury, nearly 140 years ago.

Its dedication reads:
In memory of Elizabeth Emilia, wife of William Moran, and of their deceased children.
Pray for the repose of their souls.

The Freeman's Journal of 17 April 1884 carried a report that the window was unveiled at a Solemn High Mass in St. Mary's at 11.30 a.m. on the previous Sunday (April 13th). It described how, as the Gloria in excelsis was being intoned by the celebrant, the window was uncovered over what was then the High Altar. This took place over forty years after the church itself was consecrated (on 5 January 1840). One can only wonder what was there before the window was fitted.

The newspaper reported that 'the graceful design and rich colouring reflect much credit on the artistes of the Windsor Glass Works'. It credited a Dublin firm, Millard of Grantham-street, with the ‘handsomely carved stone mullions' set to the design of an architect called Geoghegan. Apparently, in his sermon, the Rev. Alfred Murphy, S.J., 'eloquently blended the joys of the resurrection with the memory of the late Elizabeth Moran'.

Downloaded from https://search.findmypast.ie/bna/ on 6 March 2023

William Moran and his wife were married in Calcutta about 1835. They had a large family but some of the children died either as infants or at quite a young age. Elizabeth Moran died on 6 August 1880, at the reported age of 64 years. The Irish Times of 28 April 1888 carried a 'For Sale' notice for St. Edmundsbury, describing it as 'a handsome residence and demesne the property of William Moran, Esq, J.P.' William Moran died on 13 November 1894 and his death was registered in Kensington, London.

Mary (Jackson)
14 March 2023