Rector and WW1 Chaplain
War-time France 1917 and bucolic North County Dublin – it’s difficult to imagine two completely different places to work as a clergyman. But that’s what happened when Reverend Frederick Aldhouse swapped his parish in Oldtown for the battlefields of France.
His father F.S. Aldhouse was Rector of Ballymakeany parish near Drogheda for many years and was also Principal at Drogheda Grammar.
A local community group The Friends of Clonmethan have been working for some time to improve the churchyard and grounds of Saint Mary’s Church in Oldtown, the parish of Reverend FH Aldhouse.
The church had become overgrown since its closure in 1960 but an active group of people have been working away; mowing the grass, removing ivy and restoring the entrance gates.
All the work has been done against the backgroun COVID-19, while adhering to HSE protocols on Social Distancing.
On Friday, August 28 at 7pm, Archbishop Michael Jackson will bless a new headstone to Reverend FH Aldhouse, the last resident Rector of the parish.
Also in attendance will be Rector Neal Phair from Swords Group of Parishes and Father John Keegan from Rolestown parish.
A noted writer and poet, Reverend Aldhouse initially came to St Mary’s in 1914.
He saw service as a Chaplain in The First World War, returning to Clonmethan in 1919 where he remained as Rector until his death in August 1949.
Frederick Aldhouse provided comfort to soldiers as their Padre during the Great War, to the Church of Ireland members of the village and to his neighbours and friends of all faiths.
Thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Clonmethan, his final resting place is marked with a beautiful headstone inscribed with some of his poetry.
Friends of Clonmethan is a group of local volunteers from the general local area. Some have relatives buried there, some not, but the common goal of all is to preserve the old church and grounds as best possible for future generations.
A few weeks ago they marked the final resting place of Rev Aldhouse. Below is a short history of his life.
Frederick Henry Aldhouse was born on 1st November 1873 in Dublin, to Frederick Stephen Aldhouse and Francis Harriette Aldhouse (nee Hime).
He attended Trinity College receiving his BA in 1898 and his MA in 1901.
At this time he was preaching in Castlebar from 1899 to 1902. In 1902, he moved to St Doloughs in Malahide Co Dublin as Curate.
After his spell in Malahide he went on to Clonmethan church near Oldtown in 1914.
Around November 1916, Frederick volunteered his service during the first world war. He served in France with YMCA as a chaplain in May 1917.
He later travelled to India in November 1918 and then returned to London in February 1919. After arriving home from volunteering his services he was awarded the British War Medal.
He then returned to Clonmethan Church in 1919.
From this time onward he was a comfort to his parishioners, a good friend to his neighbours. Heremained in Clonmethan and wrote prolifically until the end of life on 30th August 1949.
May he rest in peace.
Courtesy Fingal Independent
First published August 22 2020
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