ST Catherine's Church in the Liberties area of Dublin, deconsecrated 30 years ago, is to be converted back into a church if £1.5 million can be raised to cover the cost of the renovation.
After years of dereliction while in the ownership of Dublin Corporation, the historic church is being taken over by a Church of Ireland congregation called CORE (City Outreach through Renewal and Evangelism).
Ms Valerie Jones, Dublin diocesan communications officer, described it as a remarkable project because it would be "the first time that a Church of Ireland church is being turned back into a Church of Ireland church".
CORE - led by its minister, the Rev Willi Stewart - is currently based in St Werburgh's Church, near Dublin Castle, but it had found this to be too small for its activities, which include catering for the homeless and victims of drug abuse.
A fund raising campaign has already secured pledges of almost £500,000 towards the cost of restoring the building, which dates from 1775 and is widely acknowledged as being one of the city's most important churches.
