(most locals worshipped at Coolock, and some perhaps at Clontarf), and land was secured at the top of Main Street, running towards the Santry River. Subscriptions were collected, and as was common in that period, came from people of various denominations. A design was commissioned by the well-known architect Patrick Byrne, who also worked on a number of other churches, and the first stone was laid in 1859. The church was officially opened in 1864 by the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Cullen, with a gala reception at a local "big house", Raheny Park, afterwards. The church was built in the Gothic style, with a small belfry at one end, and a range of stained glass in the windows. It has a door at the north east, leading to a porch, then a small lobby, with a meeting room to the left and the nave to the right. St. Assam's, initially one of several churches in larger parochial structures, became Parish Church of Raheny when that area resumed its independent existence and served the fast-growing Parish of Raheny An engraved Celtic cross stands next to the Church in memory of Marie Elizabeth Hayes, an influential medical missionary who grew up in Raheny and served as a member of the Cambridge Mission to Delhi. Cessation of routine worship Regular worship ceased when the massive ‘‘Church of Our Lady Mother of Divine Grace‘‘ was built across the Howth Road. Still owned by the Parish, still consecrated, and occasionally used for worship, the church was used for many years, accommodating meetings, and activities for children and teenagers. To maximise usage potential, it was divided horizontally, being fitted with a ceiling, creating a large upper room. To the rear of the church, there is a strip of land, and a basketball court was created for young people, though this became disused in the 1990s. Some of the land around the church was provided to the local unit of the then Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI) scouting organisation for their den, and on this area of land is also one of the three old schoolhouses, used as a basic clubhouse by the Raheny Shamrocks Athletic Club. Another plot of land was made available to the Raheny and District Credit Union when it relocated from Main Street. Remnants of the rath which gave Raheny its name can be seen on these lands. Planned disposal Mid-2008, usage of the facility ceased. It was announced by the Parish Finance Committee and the Parish Pastoral Council in December 2008 that agreement had been reached with the local credit union for that body to acquire the old church, which would be deconsecrated and converted into offices. Status The newer St. Assam′s is a Protected Structure under the Dublin City Development Plan. References Sources raheny.com (accessed on 29 May 2007) Raheny, Dublin: 1990, Through countless ages: The story of the church and parish of All Saints, and the district of Raheny, Arthur Garrett External links raheny.com Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1712 Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1864 Category:Raheny Category:Roman Catholic churches in Dublin (city) Category:Churches of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin Category:18th-century churches in Ireland