The wonder is that the church stood so long! It was closed for repairs! Little did we think that it would not be opened again till REBUILT!

Mr. FULLER, the Diocesan Architect, in his first report, dated 31st March, 1892, a few weeks after the church was closed, says:—
“After an experience of nearly thirty years, during which time I have carried out Church works in every county in Ireland, except two, I can say that, with the exception of a case in the Co. Mayo, I never met a worse one than Conary.”

A specification was then made out, and an estimate given by a first-rate builder, who engaged to do the repairs, -but with a saving clause, which released him from all responsibility ; and even with this safeguard, he hesitated, delayed several months, and, owing, as he wrote, to the difficulties, finally resigned the contract, on the 13th August. There was no time left to engage another contractor, and I then began to think that a contract, unless for a new church, was almost useless; and as we did not know what work might have to be don3, and the winter would soon set in at Conary, I determined, with God’s help, to repair or rebuild the church myself, under the approval of the Archbishop, and with the assistance and guidance of our much esteemed Diocesan Architect, which were readily given. I fortunately obtained the services of four of the best workmen in the country, and with a staff of a dozen or more, we began operations on the 16th of August, just three days after the contractor resigned. We have, practically, rebuilt the church, after three and a-half months’ hard work. The cost has been over £600. Of this, I have received £200, leaving a balance due of over £400, which I am now endeavouring to collect. This £600 represents “pulling clown” (which is almost as expensive as building up), and the actual cost of the materials and workmanship. A contractor would most likely have charged £700 at the least. Mr. FULLER’S official report, at his last visit, is a contrast to his first acquaintance with Conary. It reads as follows:—

REPORT

“BRUNSWICK CHAMBERS,

“October 17th, 1892.

” I was most agreeably surprised by the change which I found in the aspect of Conary Church on my last visit a few days ago. Previously it was only by courtesy that the structure could be called achurch. It has now been re-roofed with a handsome open timber roof; an outer porch and a vestry havebeen added, and a small organ chamber is in process of formation.”All the old timber sashes of windows have been removed and stone jambs and lead-lights, in cathedral glass, have been substituted. Ornamental tiles have been laid in aisle, and new joists and flooring put down, preparatory to the fixing tip of new benches. The chancel and porch are also to be tiled, and handsome wrought-iron standards for the communion rails are already on the ground.”Nothing could be better than the manner in which the work has been done, and the materials are all of the very best, as they need to be in such an exposed position. I was glad to see that my suggestion about rough-casting the outside in cement has been followed, instead of resorting to the usual sham work, ‘blocked out,’ to represent’ stone,’ which unfortunately prevails in this country.(Signed) “J. F. FULLER. F.S.A., Architect.”

I am told that the hardest part of the work is yet to come, namely, clearing off the debt; but few, I feel sure, will throw away this appeal. Let us think of what has been done! One of the outposts of our Church has been preserved from ruin, and a poor congregation kept together. Does this not appeal more than any words of mine? The outposts of an army are vitally important; how much more so, those of our Church, when the welfare of immortal souls is at stake! On the day of the re- opening there were 120 people present. Some of these were visitors; but the Sunday after, 70 parishioners attended Evensong; and on the 27th November, 80 parishioners were at Service in Conary Church.

It may be asked what have the people done themselves? They are all poor and unable to effect much; but one of the Sunday-school children undertook to collect, and in small sums, given even by Roman Catholics, as well as our own, nearly £10 was obtained. All the outside work, in laying out the cemetery and plantation has been done by willing hands, so that we were never in want for

spades and men. No people could have assisted better, according to their means. The landlord has most generously granted, free for ever, the land and a field adjoining (on which we hope, next year, to build a school), paid the fees of conveyance, and given a subscription of £20. All have done their best, and would do more if they were able; but, unfortunately, the District is poor, and we are compelled to seek external aid. I now leave these facts in your hands. I have pleasure in enclosing a letter from his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, and also some extracts from the papers. If you think our cause worthy of help, I shall be grateful for any assistance, and whether much or little, it will be thankfully acknowledged. May I ask you also to kindly show this to any friends who might feel an interest in our work?

Believe me to be, Yours faithfully,

J. M. ROBINSON, B.A., OLE ,

 Rector of Ococa.

THE RECTORY, WOODEN-BRIDGE.

P.S.—With regard to the School, the want of which is very much felt (not only on account of the Church children, but because we have no place to hold Young Men’s or Temperance meetings), we could not attempt to build until this debt on the Church is cleared off. The School-room would serve as a Parochial Hall, and to anyone who knows what an advantage this would be, the incentive to help us now is tenfold.

J. M. 11.

The following Resolution was passed unanimously at a Meeting of the Select Vestry, on 30th November, 1892:—

“That the best thanks of the Select Vestry of the Parish of Castle-macadam be given to the Rector (Rev. J. M. ROBINSON) for having en Ms own and sole responsibility restored Conary Church, which had fallen into a state of great dilapidation, and was quite unfit for Divine Service, the poor people in that locality not being able to give adequate assistance to keep it in repair.

” We also congratulate Mr. ROBINSON upon having completed the restoration in such a satisfactory `manner, and wish him every success in his effort to collect the necessary funds to clear off the debt he has incurred.”

Poor people generally cannot give their correct age. We have no registers to correspond with those in England, but I am confident of this, that they are nearer the truth as to age than the census return, and much more correct on that point than the pension officers are as to income. All over the country deserving poor are being kept out of the pension, not on the score of age, but because of the extravagant value placed on the farms by the pension officers, some of whom never did an hour’s farming in their lives and wouldn’t know a turnip from a mangold. The value of a farm in Ireland is not what it might be under scientific treatment and with plenty of capital. It is not the valuation that might “be put on a similar acreage in Surrey or in Kent, it is what it produces at the back of an Irish mountain removed from markets and managed on the antiquarian system that is blessed by the British Government. It is this we have to deal with, not what might be, but what is.

The first set of pension officers who came over were all right, they acted fairly, but when expenses went up a new batch were sent from England, and it is reported they got a bonus for the number of pensions cut off, at any rate they got promotion. Over these were set taskmasters, like in Egypt, to see that they did their duty, and so the pensions are disappearing, and the poor people too. The only ones who thrive are the well-paid officials of the British rule. Even those who get the pensions are treated unjustly. A pension claim may be sent in, but the officer keeps it over till it suits his convenience, sometimes for months. A pension is not payable till passed by the committee, so if the pension officer is delivering his books or has other work to do, the poor people may wait, it saves so much to the Exchequer, and perhaps the officer gets some monetary reward for this too. The committees are most anxious to deal with the cases promptly. The English official has no such anxiety, and the delay he causes inflicts a very great injustice on many of our poor. Why should the claimants to pensions be at the mercy of some young fellow from England who, as soon as he arrives, acts in such a way as to set up friction with the committee. He doesn’t understand the pressing need there is of dealing with poverty, he takes his time about his duty, he knows absolutely nothing of crops or stock or the conditions of farms. Why should such a man help to administer, and badly administer, an Act passed by a generous Government for the amelioration of the poor people in Ireland ?

The injustice does not stop here. A pension officer can object to a claim or even to an existing pension, and the committee are powerless. The appeal goes to the Local Government Board, one
official appeals to other officials, and officialism in Ireland is not in favour of the people. Off goes the pension. The Vice-President of the Local Government Board in Ireland, Sir Henry Robinson, is not to be included among the officials who are hard hearted ; he has shown by his wish to deal fairly that his sympathies are with the poor, and so far as he is concerned they will, no doubt, receive every consideration.

There ought to be some better way of dealing with appeals. Before any one is disallowed the local committee should have a greater voice. They know the facts, and cases differ very much. In one in which I was interested the pension officer altered his first valuation by reducing the total 30 per cent., and even then he had put in amounts which should not .have been included, and his estimate ought to have been brought down 80 per cent. I got a question asked in Parliament about this young, man, and the reply was that he had had no previous experience of Ireland. In another case he had valued the produce of
five hens at 30s. a year. The hens were value for IS. each. 600 per cent, profit, and, if you add the cost of keep, it comes to over 1,000 per cent., which this young official expected a poor old man of nearly ninety years of age, who had no acquaintance with Sussex cramming or White Orpingtons, should make off his Irish poultry. We should be a rich country if this were possible.

A poor holding at the top of one of the Wicklow Mountains, in extent about 12 acres, was estimated to produce £50 profit. To my own knowledge the tenant was hardly able to live. He was a steady, hardworking man, and never drank—his pension was taken from him. A poor old woman, 86 years of age, whose farm is managed by her son with his wife and six helpless children, all living on the

borderland of want, has had her pension taken away because her name and not the son’s is down in the rate book. The farm is not a bad one, but the tenant has no capital and the poor old granny is past the age for work. Valuations should be made only by those who are acquainted with the conditions of

farming in Ireland and the life of the people. If I am not greatly mistaken there will be bitter work

over these Old Age Pensions before long. The system adopted by these newly imported pension officers is such as to make he Government of England despised and hated. If we are a conquered race we should be treated fairly. We have given our best for England and it is little enough we ask in return. In this we, Protestants and Roman-Catholics, are united, we claim for our poor that they shall get fair play, if entitled to the pension that it shall be given without unnecessary delay, that bogus estimates shall not keep them out of it, that appeals shall have more consideration than what the usual set of officials give them, and that those in receipt of outdoor relief should be no longer debarred from the pension; this last, however, will right itself in 1911.

A country that has been so depopulated of its youth and manhood that it is possible to say, according to the census return, that more people are receiving pensions than are recorded on this return as over 70 years of age, a country of which this can be said deserves sympathy before everything else, because even after the lie has been extracted the truth remains, that in no other country in the world are there so many aged and helpless poor as in Ireland, out of all proportion to the population. The Old Age Pensions Act has been one of the greatest blessings that ever came to our shores, but Englishmen should see that the Act is properly meted out and not bereft of its benefit, like a great many other English Acts, by mal-administration.

So man have died after receiving the Pension, that the popular belief is that the Pension kills the people who get it. The real explanation is that the age is too advanced for any recipient to receive much benefit. Sixty-five would be a better age, and when some scheme of contributory pensions is carried out, perhaps the age limit will be reduced. Over 9,000 Pensions have been cut off in Ireland, and to add insult to injury, the Revenue apply to be refunded the money already paid. I have before me a notice to a poor woman, who was unfairly deprived of her Pension, and it is in the following strain :—

” MADAM,

” I am directed by the Board of Customs and Excise to apply to you for the repayment of £11 IOs. od., being the amount of Pension money received by you during disqualification.
” I am, Madam,
” Your obedient servant,
“JOHN M.ROBERTS.”

The Committee supported her claim very strongly, but the Pension Officer appealed, and the Board cut off the Pension ; it is, to my own knowledge, a most unfair case. I cannot do better than give the general statement made by Mr. Ennis at the deputation which waited on the Vice-President, L.G.B., who said that the figures quoted by Mr. Ennis were very striking and would receive his careful consideration.

SCALE adopted by the Joint Diocesan Councils as a general standard for Churchyards in the United Dioceses, subject to such additional provisions as may be necessary in particular cases, to be submitted to and approved of by the council.

1. If permission be given to open or re-open a Grave for a person who has died within the Parish or District, a fee of £2 may be charged where the Select Vestry undertakes the perpetual upkeep of the Grave. £2 (£1 to Parish Funds and £1 to Sexton)
2. For permission to re-open a Vault in which any member of the family of the deceased person has been buried. £ 5 – 0 – 0
3. For permission to open or re-open a Grave for a person who has never resided, or who had prior to the date of death ceased to reside in the Parish or District for more than 5 years, the permission of the Minister and Chruchwardens having been previously obtained. £5 – 0 – 0
4. For permission to re-open a Grave in all other cases…. £ 10 – 0 – 0
   N.B. No person may purchase a plot in a graveyard. The right of exclusive burial in a prescribed place can only be acquired by obtaining a faculty.
5. For permission to erect a headstone… £2 – 0 – 0 Parishioner £5 – 0 – 0 Non Parishioner
   Permission to be conditional on the undertaking that a sufficient foundation shall be made for the stone at the cost of the applicant.
6. For permission to place a flat stone or other monument over a Grave £2 – 0 – 0 Parishioner
   £5 – 0 – 0 Non Parishioner
7. For permission to enclose a Grave with a wall, kerbstone or railing, in addition to the charge for any stone or other monument
   In all cases of a monument or enclosure, a proper foundation shall be required at the cost of the applicant; and in any such case the above fees shall convey a right to no more than 28 square feet, Not more that 12 additional square feet may be acquired, at a charge of £1 per square foot . £2 – 0 – 0 Parishioner £5 – 0 – 0   Non Parishioner
8. For any kind of monument in the Church, or mural tablet, the Select Vestry have power to fix such a fee in each particular case as they may think fit. One third of the cost of the monument or tablet is suggested as a suitable fee. Parishioner £5 – 0 – 0 Non Parishioner £10 – 0 – 0
9. To the Sexton for attendance and tolling the bell … £1 – 0 – 0
10. The fee to the Gravedigger for opening and closing a Grave must be arranged by the Select Vestry according to local circumstances.
    In all cases the design of any proposed headstone, flatstone, railing, vault, mural tablet, or other monument, whether in the Burial Ground or in the Church, must be submitted, previous to erection, to the Minister in order that the necessary sanction may be sought. (See Ch. Ix, Canon 40, and Ch. Xii, Secs. 9 and 10 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland)

ALL FEES TO BE PAID BEFOREHAND

DIOCEASAN OFFICES DUBLIN. 

7^TH SEPTEMBER, 1950

As passed by Castlemacadam and Conary Select Vestry and approved by the Glendalough Diocesan Council on Wednesday 4^th June 1958

CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH OF IRELAND, CH. X11.

3. Where, by faculty or prescription, the members of a family have acquired a right to be buried in a particular place in any such Burial Ground as aforesaid, such right, shall in conformity, with the provisions in that behalf of the “Irish Church ASct, 1869,” be acknowledged, and effect shall be given to the same by the Minister and Churchwardens charged with the care thereof.
4. When members of a family have been buried in a particular place, although it may have occurred not in the exercise of a right, the Minister and Churchwardens shall nevertheless guard against interfering with such use of such place, unless on grounds of imperative public convenience or necessity.
5. Except in cases where such right or user exists, the Minister and Churchwardens shall determine the place of sepulture.

As regards prescriptive right to a grave-space it was decided in the case of “Hickey v. Sullivan (28 I.L.T.T., 150) that

“The exclusive right on the part of a particular family, to an open grave space in the parish churchyard, can only be acquired by a faculty, or by prescription, as appurtenant to the occupation of an ancient messuage (or dwelling-house) within the parish. Rights under a faculty or prescription are lost by non-residence in the parish.”

A Prescriptive Right to Burial in a grave-space inplies a long continued and uninterrupted exercise of the right, attached to a dwellinghouse in the parish. Probably no case for a prescriptive right to an ordinary grave-space, as distinct from a family vault, has ever been proved in Ireland. So that there is really no such thing in law as a “family burial-ground” in a Parish churchyard.