A new Presbyterian church, built behind the restored 19th century facade of the previous church building, will be opened on Dublin's Adelaide Road at 3 p.m. today.
Performing the ceremony will be Dr Russell Birney, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
The five-storey building cost €4.9 million. It has a purpose-built childcare facility, office accommodation, facilities for a project which helps the unemployed, a multi-purpose worship area, and residential units for church staff.
Adelaide Road's minister, the Rev Frank Sellar, said, in response to those who claim that another part of Dublin's heritage has been lost through the project, that "the only people complaining are those who have not been in the building."
The old church was "an unremarkable building in bad repair," he said. "In developing this project we have carefully considered our responsibility to what has gone before and there are elements of continuity, including the restored 19th century fascade, the original windows, the pulpit, and the organ." The new building was "an asset to the enironment, built in partnership with the community, and which reflects the evolution of architecture within the city".
What that had done was put in place a building that "helps us more effectively reach out to the community that surrounds the church here in central Dublin." To do that effectively they needed user-friendly facilities, which were "attractive to the multinational people we minister to, including the settled population, young professionals living in the city, students, tourists, and asylum-seekers."
Today's opening will be followed by a reception and, this evening, by a celebration with the New Irish Choir and Orchestra.