Hundreds of people gathered at the War Memorial in the centre of Londonderry, this morning, for a service and Act of Remembrance to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for freedom in the two World Wars and in other, more recent, conflicts.
This morning’s Service – under a benign autumn sky – was led by the Pastoral Assistant at St Columb’s Cathedral, Rev Canon John Merrick, who was joined by senior clergy from the four main Churches.
The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster; the Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Donal McKeown; the Minister of First Derry Presbyterian Church, Rev Colin Jones; and the Minister at Carlisle Road Methodist Church, Rev Peter Morris, led those present in prayers and hymn-singing, including ‘Abide With Me’.
The annual ceremony is held on the Sunday nearest Armistice Day. It included a solemn ceremony during which wreaths were laid by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry, Mr Ian Crowe MBE DL; political and civic dignitaries; and representatives of various military and policing services.
The Britannia and William King Bands provided music for the event, including a rendition of the National Anthem and a poignant playing of The Last Post.
Immediately afterwards, a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving was held at St Columb’s Cathedral.
The Bishop of Kondoa in Tanzania has thanked people here for the warmth of their welcome during his week-long visit to the Northwest to initiate a five-year mission link between his diocese and the Diocese of Derry & Raphoe.
Most Rev Dr Given Gaula was speaking in St Eunan’s Cathedral in Raphoe where he preached the first of two sermons at a Service of Evening Prayer to launch the new partnership agreement. The companionship link could see groups and individuals from each diocese visiting each other to witness and share in work for the Kingdom, and supporting one another through prayer, resources and skilled personnel.
During this evening’s service, Bishop Andrew Forster presented Bishop Given with a pectoral cross, cut from the same piece of ancient bog oak as the cross he himself wears. The crosses were carved by the Bishop’s Curate of the Ardara Group of Parishes, Rev Robert Wray.
“What I hope,” Bishop Andrew told Dr Gaula, “is that whenever you wear this cross, it will remind you to pray for us.” Pointing to his own cross, he said, “Whenever I wear this cross it will remind me that your cross is made from the same piece of wood, and I will pray for you. And it reminds us that even though we come from very different parts of the world we are children of God, we are one in Christ.”
Rev Wray presented Bishop Given with a larger cross, too, to place on his desk in Kondoa. It was a gift from the clergy of Derry & Raphoe.
Clergy and parishioners travelled from far and wide across the Diocese of Derry & Raphoe to attend the Launch Service, including from Macosquin, Ballyshannon, Omagh, Fanad, Dunfanaghy, Inver, Faughanvale, Donegal, Moville, Limavady and Londonderry.
In his sermon, Dr Gaula drew inspiration from chapter 5 of Luke’s Gospel, which recounts how Jesus called his first disciples. He tells Simon – who had had a fruitless night fishing – to put out into deep water and let down their nets for a catch. The sceptical Simon did as Jesus suggested, and they caught so many fish that their nets began to break. They signaled their partners in a second boat to come and help them, and they hauled in so many fish that both boats began to sink.
“Friends,” Bishop Given said, “God is calling us to go even deeper, to experience his power, to experience his blessings.” Peter’s faith brought him many blessings, the Bishop said. He challenged the congregation to do three things to make the new relationship between Kondoa and Derry & Raphoe go even deeper.
“The first thing I encourage each one of us to consider on iour journey is our love for Jesus. We need to love Jesus so that our relationship can go even deeper, Our relationship can be a good example of the Anglican Communion. We can only make this possible if we love Jesus in our lives. Jesus will be the centrepiece of our relationship.
“Secondly, not only to love Jesus, I’m encouraging each one of us to live for Jesus. Live Jes`us. If we live Jesus, those who are surrounding us – our neighbours, our children, our grandchildren and all around us – when they see us living Jesus, their lives will be transformed and our relationship will go from strength to strength.
“And thirdly – in order to go even deeper and catch more fish by bringing more people to Jesus – please, friends, I am encouraging each one of you, we should not keep Jesus as our own property but rather we should give Jesus to others. And this is a call to mission. You need to give Jesus to your children. You need to give Jesus to your granchildren, to your neighbour. God is calling us to give others Jesus. It is only Jesus who can transform the lives of others.”
The second sermon was preached by Bishop Andrew who said he felt blessed to be inaugurating something that would be good for us and good for Kondoa, as well. The mission link is being facilitated by CMS Ireland, whose Mission Director, Jenny Smyth, was in the congregation.
“For too long,” Bishop Andrew said, “the church in the West – the bit that we’re part of – has looked to the church in other parts of the world and almost said something along the lines of, ‘Be like us’. And in so doing, what we’ve tried to do is transport our culture – our Christian culture – to a church that actually needs to transport some of its culture to us, because what we see in the church today is that in places like Kondoa – in places across the global south – [there’s] a church that’s growing, a church that’s vibrant, a church that’s filled with a heart to communicate the Gospel into its community and into its world. And what we need, Bishop Given, is some of that passion back in the church in the west, some of that heart.
“So, the days have long since gone when it was about ‘The West to the Rest’. What we need is the church that is growing and vibrant coming to us and sharing that love and goodness and grace, and thank you for already doing that.”
Bishop Andrew said he was filled with excitement about the new link. “I need to hear of a diocese that in 10 years has grown from 5,000 members to 25,000 members. I need to hear the stories of a diocese where people are content to meet under a tree to worship God, because in their worship of God they go out to share Jesus. I want to hear about a diocese that is empowering women in a mainly Muslim area – empowering women about their own value in the eyes of Jesus Christ. I want to hear the stories of a diocese that is not content to sit back and maintain what we have but to reach out and do great things for Jesus. That’s what I’ve been hearing about all week, and it’s been wonderful, and that’s what I hope will bless us.”
This evening’s service was led by the Dean of Raphoe, Very Rev Liz Fitzgerald, who was assisted by the Archdeacon of Raphoe, Ven. David Huss, and members of the Cathedral Chapter, Rev Canon Mervyn Peoples and Canon Brian Russell who read from Scripture. Archdeacon Huss led the prayers. Music was provided by members of the Cathedral choir, accompanied by church organist Renee Goudie.
The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe has signed a partnership agreement with the Anglican Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania that could see individuals or groups from both dioceses visiting one another over the next five years to witness and share in work for the Kingdom and supporting one another through prayer, resources and skilled personnel.
The document was signed at the Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Synod, on Wednesday 23rd October 2024, by Rt Andrew Forster, Rt Rev Dr Given Gaula (Bishop of Kondoa), and the Mission Director of CMS Ireland, Jenny Smyth.
Bishop Andrew described the partnership as a “companionship link”. In committing to it, the two dioceses have agreed to pray regularly for one another’s work; maintain regular contact through a named link person; and offer opportunities for individuals and groups to visit and join in with the life and work of the church in the other jurisdiction.
The people of Kondoa survive mainly through subsistence farming and are overwhelmingly Muslim. Despite this, Bishop Given has succeeded in growing the Church in the area through what he has described as “aggressive evangelising”, raising church membership there to more than 25,000.
Among his aspirations for the link with Derry & Raphoe are assistance with the training of new clergy for his diocese and the provision of safe, clean water supplies for local people.
In his Presidential Address to this year’s Synod, which had ‘partnership’ as its theme, Bishop Andrew spoke of his excitement about the new relationship. “Today, we are stepping out – reaching out – in faith,” he said, “as we inaugurate a new companionship link with the Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania.” Bishop Andrew, who first met Bishop Given at the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops in 2022, said it was a great personal pleasure to welcome his counterpart to our synod.
“I am tremendously excited by this joint initiative,” Bishop Forster told delegates. “My prayer for our partnership is that we will spur each other on in mission and evangelism, and that our new relationship will prove mutually beneficial.”
Bishop Andrew Presented Dr Gaula with a number of gifts, including a copy of the Book of Common Prayer and a plaque bearing the Diocesan crest.
Delegates at Diocesan Synod ’24 were given a glimpse of the challenges facing Church – through falling numbers and looming clerical retirements – when [on Wednesday 23rd October 2024] the two Archdeacons updated them on the Diocesan Council’s work on the Diocesan Review announced a year ago. The Archdeacon of Derry, Venerable Robert Miller, reminded Synod of last October’s decision to set up a commission to “prayerfully conduct a strategic review” of the diocese – a motion endorsed without objection. Progress in shaping the nature of the review had been slower than they would have wished, he said, although they were launching a resource at this year’s synod to equip the Diocese in prayer as a unified Diocese. “In prayer,” he said, “we will grasp the bigger picture which God has in mind for our dioceses and, furthermore, see the path to walk in order to make that picture a reality.”
The two Archdeacons were in a position to present an ‘initial report’ only, rather than the anticipated ‘interim report’, he said. “There is more work needed before we’re in a position to agree on a timetable for the presentation of the commission’s summary of the findings and recommendations but we would hope to bring this interim report to the Synod in 2025.”
In moving this review forward, Archdeacon Miller said, they were committed to listening to God and to one another. “A meeting of those who had expressed interest was held back in June 2024 and this proved to be a helpful opportunity to listen to what God has been laying on people’s hearts when praying as a part of the Diocesan Review. There are challenges to be faced – church attendance has dropped in the past 10 years – and we need to effectively plan for church leadership and ministry in the future…In the Church of Ireland we anticipate 170 retirements in the Church of Ireland in the next 10 years.
“As Archdeacons, we’ve been at work with Bishop Andrew to consider how other dioceses have approached these challenges and what their model of diocesan review has been. This information is still being collated and considered, and will inform the model of review going forward.
“What is becoming clear,” he said, “is that there are a number of ways that we can effectively listen to a wide cross-section of our dioceses to construct an accurate picture of needs and of possibilities. Our Diocesan Review will define clear actions and issue from the picture of the dioceses that we form through our listening process, and these actions will both be cultural and structural in nature. And some of the areas that the Diocesan Review will be considering will be vocation, giving, presence, mission and resourcing.
“Already in this Diocesan Synod we have renewed the call to prayer and sought to resource fresh thinking in mission with the announcement that [a new] mission fund will be launched [in the New Year]. God is at work in His church and as we seek to draw close to Him in prayer, our prayer should be that we may nurture the gifts that He has already given to us. As we look towards the review, we look also to our own hearts and the call to odedience of Our Heavenly Father.”
The Archdeacon of Raphoe, Venerable David Huss, pointed out that he wasn’t one of the 170 clergy planning for retirement in the next 10 years “although, who knows?” Echoing and endorsing everything that Archdeacon Miller had said, Archdeacon Huss focused on a few specific areas of work in regard to the Review.
The resolution passed last year could be summarised as calling for four actions, he said – to resource, research, reflect and recommend. Referring to the new prayer resource launched at Synod, Archdeacon Huss said that prayer would underpin everything about the review. “It is not simply a managerial exercise but a spiritual enterprise, and it is as much to do with prayer as about practicalities.”
Regarding the process of research, Archdeacon Huss focused on the 2023 census across the Church of Ireland. It wasn’t perfect, he said, but it was the best census that we had had, and would provide helpful data. “They show an undoubted decline over the last 10 years. In terms of attendance, a decline of at least 25% on average across our Diocese in Sunday church attendance from 2013 to 2023.” Meetings with parishes and surveys may well be used, Archdeacon Huss suggested, to gather information about finances and demographic changes, and to get a sense of the spiritual temperature and the level of morale.
The final two parts of the Review’s remit – to reflect on the information and to make recommendations – would necessarily come later, following on from the research. “In one sense, I think, they are easier, in a strange way, because it seems to me that there are a reklatively small set of possible options for configuring our dicoeses and our ministries in order to keep them afloat as we punch through the oncoming wave of secularisation which is inevitably bearing down upon all of us. The difficult thing is making sure we know clearly where we are at present and what kind of ministry we want into the future. When we are clear on those we will be able to set a wise plan which will hopefully receive assent and be put into action.”
Bishop Andrew thanked the Archbishops for providing their upate on the progress of the review.
Bishop Andrew Forster has told delegates at the Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Synod that he has no intention of closing any parish church in the Diocese. His assurance came in his Presidential Address to the 2024 Synod, on Wednesday 23rd October, during which he announced a new partnership – a five-year companion link – with the Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania.
The Bishop said some people had been very honest with him, usually at the church door, in sharing their fear that the ongoing Diocesan Review, announced at last year’s Synod, might lead to the closure of their church buildings. But Bishop Andrew said he wanted to be “absolutely clear” on this: “I am not here to close any parish church.” He hoped his clarification would clear up any misunderstandings and allay any concerns that delegates had.
A new booklet, ‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’, which includes prayers for the church and the community, was presented to delegates at this year’s Synod. Although its prayers had a broad scope, Bishop Andrew hoped they would prove helpful as parishioners prayed for the ongoing diocesan review. “Ultimately,” he said, “the review is about determining how our church can continue to flourish in the difficult times that we live in, with all the challenges they bring for faith communities – not just the Church of Ireland but right across the board.”
Bishop Andrew’s Presidential Address is reproduced in full below.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we gather today as the people of God and the family of God – coming together from Dunfanaghy to Maghera, from Ballykelly to Ballyshannon, Castlerock to Carrickfinn, Carrigart to Castledawson, Limavady to Laghey, Letterkenny to Londonderry, Balteagh to Buncrana, Moville to Omagh, Kilrea to Kilmacrennan, and from all points – and many parishes – in between. You’re all so welcome.
We come together because we love God and we love His church. I list all those names to show what a diverse diocese we are – covering a large area of the north-west of this island, coming from two distinct political jurisdictions – but worshipping one God. From city, towns, villages, seaside and countryside, we are a varied and diverse group of people; yet at each of our Diocesan Synods I always feel a wonderful sense of unity. We assemble not just as a gathering of people but as family, we gather as family, working together, in partnership, to build God’s kingdom. In a family everyone is important and valued and has their role to play, and I hope that in this family of God everyone will feel important and valued, and that they have their role to play.
Diocesan synods have been meeting in the Church of Ireland since shortly after disestablishment. I came across these remarks that were spoken at the first diocesan synod of the Diocese of Newcastle in Australia, which pre-dates our diocesan synods. It took place on Tuesday 15th August 1856. Having given thanks to God that the synod had been able to gather, Bishop William Tyrrell began his charge with these words: ‘I would desire to unite a fervent prayer, that our consultations may tend to render our beloved church more and more efficient in winning souls to Christ.’ These are hopes that I echo for our gathering today. There’s a lot of business that we have to transact today but, overall, our vision is to continue to be a diocese that radiates Christ and transforms community; that saves souls won for Christ.
I would like us to focus for a few minutes on the theme of partnership – in its various manifestations – and that will be the recurring theme of this address.
Philippians 1 v3-6 says: ‘I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’
Partnership in the Gospel is the key to Paul’s close relationship with this small church in Philippi, and partnership in the gospel is the key to our close relationships in this diocese, because the gospel is good news. Its message has the power to change people’s lives and transform communities. Never lose confidence in the power of the gospel. As Paul puts it in Romans chapter 1, ‘I’m not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.’ And in a world where people seem to scurry up every blind alley in search of fulfilment and peace, don’t lose confidence in the Gospel, the good news, don’t lose confidence in its power. It has changed my life and it has changed yours. Our partnership is in the gospel.
Partnership in the gospel leads us on then to partnership in mission, because mission is the strategy that we use to share the good news. Mission can be both traditional and creative, local and global. There has always been a tension between maintenance and mission. The former requires us simply to maintain what we have, whereas mission involves the risk of reaching out.
The plain fact is that a solely ‘maintenance ministry’ approach in our parishes won’t cut it; it won’t maintain and protect what we have. Rather it embeds a mentality of decline. Mission is risky. It requires us to think beyond ourselves. Sometimes we’ll get that right and sometimes we won’t, but the truth is that the God whom we worship today, the God whom we’re here to serve today is a missionary God: he sends His Son; he sends His Spirit; he sent out the disciples. And now he sends us to continue their work.
How should we respond as a Diocese to God’s call? How should we respond to the great commission in Matthew’s Gospel, to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”?
Of course, we respond in a way that reflects the context in which we work; how we engage with that context and how we share Good News within that context.
Today, we are stepping out in faith as we inaugurate a new companionship link with the Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania. It is a great personal pleasure for me to welcome Bishop Given Gaula to our synod today. Bishop Given and I first met just before the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops in 2022, and we look forward to hearing from him later on in our proceedings. I am tremendously excited by this joint initiative, as the Diocese of Kondoa will inspire us to greater mission as I hope we will inspire the Diocese of Kondoa to greater mission. My prayer for our partnership is that we will spur each other on, and that our new relationship will prove mutually beneficial.
We will be celebrating this new relationship at a service in St Eunan’s Cathedral in Raphoe on Sunday evening, at 7pm, and it would be really encouraging if many of you were able to join us for what should be a most uplifting occasion.
In a short while, we will hear, also, from our good friend Rev Rob Jones, who is our National Director of Pioneering. Pioneering has mission at its heart, with the goal of reaching those with ‘little or no contact with church.’ I’m really pleased that our Pioneering Hub is now up and active and working. And also, in our proceedings today, you will hear from Archdeacon Miller about the launch of our own Diocesan Mission Fund beginning in January 2025. This fund will use some of our own resources to help parishes take advantage of missionary opportunities in their midst. So, we have that to look forward to.
So, partnership in the gospel and partnership in mission must have the foundation of partnership in prayer. The parable of the house built on the rock and the house built on sand has many different applications, but for me it always speaks of the priority of prayer in the life of the household of God. You may recall that during the pandemic we published a little book of prayers to help us through those dark days, ‘Hope in the Pandemic’. Today, as you may have already noticed, we are presenting a new booklet to you called ‘Building Hope, Charting the Future.’
Although these prayers have a broad scope, I hope they will prove helpful for each and every one of us as we pray for our Church and pray for those whom we want to reach out to; as we pray for our mission and as we pray for our ongoing diocesan review. Ultimately, the review is about determining how our church can continue to flourish in the difficult times that we live in, with all the challenges they bring for faith communities – not just the Church of Ireland but right across the board.
Later in this synod, our Archdeacons will report on the review. I have no desire to steal their thunder, but I would like to make a couple of points. The first is this: pray, pray and pray again that God will guide and lead us as we plan and review together. The second thing I want to say is perhaps a little more sensitive. Some people have been very honest with me, usually at the church door, in sharing their fear that the review may lead to the closure of their church building. I want to be absolutely clear on this: I am not here to close any parish church. Occasionally, vestries do come to me and say, ‘We can’t do this anymore’. Usually, in such instances, the problems are falling numbers, financial stress or major issues with a building. That leads us into a dialogue about what the best options are. We celebrate all that has happened, and all that has gone on before, the faithfulness of generations, and we look to the future. Sometimes creative outcomes are possible. St Columba’s Church in Glencolmcille is an example of this. There the church has been re-purposed with a lease that continues to facilitate occasional services in that building, so its history lives on into the future.
I hope this is a clarification that clears up any misunderstandings there may be, and allays any concerns you may have. To repeat: I am not here to close any parish churches. Trust me, and please – as we discern the best way forward for our diocese – pray, pray and pray again. Hopefully this little booklet will help you pray, it’ll help people in your parishes pray. The pandemic one surprisingly ended up going all over the world and maybe this one will, as well, and be a gift to the wider Church, as well.
So, we’ve thought about partnership in the Gospel, partnership in mission, partnership in prayer and I think there’s a very natural progression to partnership in nurturing and empowering a new generation. Passing the faith on to the next generation is surely one of the most important tasks of the Church. I always look forward to our synods, to hearing from Kirsty McCartney our Children’s Ministry Officer and Claire Hinchliffe our Youth Officer. We are blessed to have them. They bring creativity, energy, wisdom and passion to their roles and are a real asset to the diocese.
I would love it if every congregation was constantly thinking – not just every so often but constantly thinking – about how best to integrate the younger generation into the life of faith and the life of worship. There is some superb work going on across our diocese, yet we know the challenges are great – as are the challenges of growing up in today’s world. This is one of those moments when we all end up sounding like old-timers, isn’t it, when we think, ‘Goodness, I’m glad I’m not growing up now because there are so many challenges’? There’s great work going on and what difference would it make if all the time, all the time, we were constantly thinking about how best to integrate the younger generation into the life of faith?
I want to publicly acknowledge the work done in our schools, particularly those under Church of Ireland Patronage in County Donegal, which seek to live out our distinct ethos in the everyday education of the children we cherish. They have my profound gratitude and admiration.
That leads me on to Partnership in Transforming Communities. You have no idea how much I love to hear stories of churches engaging with their communities. I hear of support for food banks, winter coat giveaways, second-hand shops, men’s sheds, community concerts, festivals, cafes, winter drop-in’s, befriending services, support for refugees and help for the marginalised. Our partnership with the Mother’s Union in this diocese in advocating for the victims of domestic violence has, I believe, been groundbreaking. We follow Jesus not just for ourselves but to bring His love into a needy world. When we recall His example of meeting people at their point of need, it has to inspire us to do exactly the same thing.
I am delighted that Hilary McClay from Bishop’s Appeal is with us today. Hilary will be giving us a timely update about its incredibly valuable work, just days after the launch of its appeal for the Middle East.
Now, I could talk about many other partnerships that I see across our diocese, but time is ticking on. Partnerships make us strong and keep us close. And partnership is at the heart of the Gospel message. Let us commit ourselves to be partners in hope – Partnership in Hope. This is God’s church and Jesus says I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I don’t need to remind any of you of the challenges that we face. Each of us knows them only too well. We see them in our own personal lives and in our parishes. But God is always greater. Isn’t that an uplifting thought? God is always greater. He is greater than the challenges. He is greater than our fears. He is greater than our worries and concerns. God is always greater than anything we can imagine or conceive of, and it is in that truth that we step forward as partners in hope. Don’t let the challenges steal your hope. God is greater. He is with us, and he loves His church. He will build His church.
I want to thank all of you for the partnership in which we share. I am humbled to be surrounded today by men and women of God who give of themselves sacrificially to build their church. Thank you for what you do. I am grateful beyond words to the clergy and the laity of this diocese for the partnerships that we share. I especially want to thank those whom I perhaps work closest with in partnership, David and Robert, our Archdeacons. We take what we do very seriously, but I hope we don’t take ourselves too seriously. David and Robert are a gift to me and a treasure to the Diocese of Derry & Raphoe.
I want to thank Joanne, my ever efficient and ever patient secretary who makes sure I’m in the right place at the right time. So, thank you, Joanne, for all your support and all your prayers. As a diocese we are indebted to Gavin Harkin who does so much to make a day like this happen and who – right throughout the year, in his own quiet, unflappable way – keeps us right, ably assisted, of course, by the Honorary Secretaries alongside me. Wasn’t it Wellington who said of his generals, ‘I don’t know what effect these men will have upon the enemy but, my goodness, they frighten me’? What a formidable bunch they are. I want to thank Paul our diocesan paparazzo – who once described himself to me as ‘God’s spin doctor’ – and who is always so immensely helpful in promoting the work of our parishes. I have already mentioned Kirsty and Claire, but I also want to mention Jocelyn for the invaluable safeguarding support that she offers and the team that she has built around us that I know has given us all much more confidence in being the safe Church that God calls us to be.
Now, on the back of your little prayer book which you have now you’ll see the prayer of the Eastern Church and I love – just over halfway down – ‘and those whom we have forgotten do thou O Lord remember’. Thank you, everyone, for all that you do. You are a blessing to me and a blessing to the Church of Jesus Christ in our beloved Diocese and in our beloved parishes.
So, let us move ahead now as we transact our business and may it be done in a spirit of partnership with God and partnership with each other.
Around 500 pupils from more than 30 schools crowded into Ramelton Presbyterian Church on Tuesday 24th September for the annual County Donegal Schools’ Service. The organisers of this year’s event – for schools under Church of Ireland or Presbyterian Church patronage – chose the exhortation ‘Make a Difference’ as its theme.
The huge congregation, comprising children, teachers and clergy, were welcomed by Rev Stephen Richmond of Donegal Presbyterian Church. The Moderator of the Derry and Donegal Presbytery, Rev Susan Moore, led the ‘Call to Worship’ and the three-part address was given by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster. The Moderator and the Bishop are the Protestant schools’ respective Presbyterian and Church of Ireland patrons.
The Bishop had some words of reassurance in his address for the schoolchildren. “The Kingdom of God tells us we are loved by God, that we are forgiven by God, that God wants to be with us every single of day of our lives.”
Bishop Andrew’s address was based on the Parable of the Sower, which describes how different people reacted to God’s word. As he addressed the children, the bishop blew up a balloon to help convey the reading’s message about growth.
Bishop Andrew asked the congregation how they reacted to hearing God’s news. “Do you listen, but forget? Do you not listen at all? Or do we listen to what God says and say ‘Yes’ to it, and invite Jesus into our lives? The wonderful thing is – what the parable tells us – is that whenever the seed falls on good ground, it grows and grows and grows, and wonderful things happen.”
The Bishop had some words of reassurance for the schoolchildren. “The Kingdom of God tells us we are loved by God, that we are forgiven by God, that God wants to be with us every single of day of our lives.”
The annual service is something of a logistical triumph as buses ferrying pupils from all four corners of the county arrive at the church within minutes of one another, delivering their young charges in time for the beginning of worship at 11 a.m.
Members of MU branches from across the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe were in Limavady on Sunday 22nd September 2024 for MU’s Diocesan Festival Service, which was held in Christ Church, Drumachose.
Among those in the congregation were the Provincial President-elect, Kay Clarke (who takes up office in January); Diocesan MU President, Jacqui Armstrong; one of her predecessors, Jean Fox; and MU Zonal Trustee Iris Suitor, who gave the address.
Worship was led by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster and the Rector of Drumachose, Rev Canon Aonghus Mayes. They were assisted by the Curate at Christ Church, Rev Andrew Neill.
Mrs Suitor told the congregation that it was a privilege to speak at their Festival Service. She explained that her role as a member of the worldwide Zonal Trustee board involved responsibility for governance, financial accountability and staffing issues. Mothers’ Union has 3.4m members in 84 countries, she pointed out, and Ireland has enough members to be classed as one of the 11 zones worldwide.
In her address, she reminded those present of the work MU has done to raise literacy levels, combat poverty and tackle gender-based violence around the globe. “At the last worldwide conference, which I was privileged to attend, we came away – remember now, we’re all a diverse lot – we came away saying we’re going to try and stop poverty, we’re going to try and stop inequality and we’re going to try and stop injustice.”
Mrs Suitor urged her fellow members to be generous. “Generosity, of course, is not all about money,” she said. “There are many ways in which we can be generous. Today’s society expects a return, but the Bible tells us to give quietly and expect nothing in return.” She encouraged members to be kind, to complement someone, to thank their Mothers’ Union leaders, speak kindly to their rectors at the church door and to help others. “If you love Jesus, you will want to spend time with those in need, you will want to spend time with others.” Mrs Suitor also called on MU members – especially the older members present – to help young mothers by sharing their time and expertise.
The Prayers of the People were read by members of five MU branches: Liz Davison (Maghera and Upperlands); Kaye Stewart (Convoy, Monellan and Donaghmore); Hazel Magilligan (Aghadowey); Shirley Grundon (Macosquin); and Charlotte Johnston (Killowen).
Near the end of the service, two diocesan awards were presented by Ms Armstrong. The Eileen Moore Memorial Award – for the branch which raises most money per member – went to Clondehorkey MU, whose 13 members collected €1,686.49 (which worked out at over €129 each). The honour was accepted on their behalf by Mrs May Boyd.
The Helen Livingston Award for Best Annual Programme was awarded to Edenderry and Clanabogan MU, and accepted by Ann Orr.
The organist for today’s service was Peter Livingstone, and the Christ Church Choir led the hymn-singing.
Following the service, MU members and guests enjoyed refreshments in Drumachose parish hall.
Sunday 15th September 2024 was a red letter day for one group of parishioners in East Donegal as they celebrated the 200th anniversary of their beloved church, St Ninian’s, in Convoy.
It was an occasion to savour, with Bishop Andrew Forster joining the congregation to preach the sermon and three former rectors, Rev Peter Wilson, Rev Canon Bob Hanna and Rev David Griscome, turning up to celebrate the historic occasion.
Clergy and readers from a number of Raphoe parishes were also there to support the parishioners in a Service of Thanksgiving that was organised and led by the former Rural Dean, Rev Canon David Crooks, and attended too by his successor, the Dean of Raphoe Very Rev Liz Fitzgerald. Clergy from the local Roman Catholic and Presbyterian churches were also in St Ninian’s for today’s celebration.
Extra chairs had to be brought into the church to accommodate the huge number of people who filled the pews and spilled over in the aisle. In his sermon, Bishop Andrew invited a show of hands of all those present who had been baptised in St Ninian’s or been married there – and it was striking how many of the congregation raised their arms in the air.
During his sermon, Bishop Andrew remarked on how the church of Jesus Christ was linked to the past but yet was ever new. “Think back, to 1824. Now, the Bishop at the time was William Bissett. So, Bishop Bisset – which is quite hard to say – he was actually the last Bishop of Raphoe before the amalgamation of the two dioceses, so he lived in Raphoe and would’ve made the short journey to Convoy to dedicate this church in 1824.
“It’s stood through famine; through the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland, when we stopped being the state church; through two world wars; through independence and partition; through, I think I’m right in saying, two pandemics, there might’ve been more); and through civil war. It’s stood here through days when everyone in the local community was connected in some way to a church, to days that are much more secular – today. It’s stood sentinel as a place of worship and of witness to Jesus Christ. For 200 years, it’s been a place for family – a place for the family of God. Maybe it you have the family pew where you’ve always sat. Maybe it’s a place where you come for weddings; it’s a reminder of Sunday School or Confirmation; of the hardest moments in life when life has been really difficult and this has been the place where you’ve found solace and hope and love and care.
“You see, what we do this afternoon is give thanks for a building, and ultimately, whenever we strip it all away, that’s what this place is. It’s stone and lime, bricks and mortar. The Sunday School children will tell us the church isn’t a building, it’s about the people, and of course that’s true. One of our prayers very much reflects that; it’s in your Order of Service. But you and I know that through the presence of generations, through the prayers of the people of God, through the opening of God’s word and the celebration of the sacraments, this becomes much, much more than stone and lime, and bricks and mortar. It becomes a hallowed place, a place that becomes part of you, a place that is part of your own journey of faith, a place that has nurtured you, that has loved you, that has blessed you in good times and in bad.
“So, we’re thankful today, thankful for St Ninian’s; thankful for those who’ve cared for it and continue to care for it; thankful for its ministry in the past, for its ministry today and its ministry in the future.”
Bishop Andrew posed a question for the congregation: what was the church here for? There was a common image of the church, he said: hard pews, somebody at the front dressed in peculiar clothing, hymns. There are a lot of people who think it’s not an experience that they’d want. “And yet, you and I know that being part of the church, being part of St Ninian’s, being part of the family of God as you are, enhances, blesses and encourages life. It’s a life-giver and it can be life-giving for the community around us as well.”
Everyone had a part to play in their local church, the Bishop said. “What’s your part to play in 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 church, St Ninian’s? Are you playing your part? We’ve all different kinds of gifts but one spirit. The Bible says to each one – you and me – gifts are given. Play your part. Do you remember that famous poster from the First World with General Kitchener [pointing the finger] which said ‘Your country needs you’? Your church needs you. Your church needs you to play your part. Play your part in building up the body of Christ.”
Bishop Andrew expressed deep gratitude to the members of Convoy Parish Church. “Thank you for your love for St Ninian’s, Convoy. Thank you for your care for this place that speaks so much to the community around. And I thank you that you are part of the people of God, the union of our church, the family of God, the Holy Temple, the bride of Christ. You are precious to him.”
The Old Testament reading in today’s service was read by Rev David Griscome. Select Vestry member Robert McGonigle delivered the New Testament reading. And Canon Bob Hanna read the Gospel. Soloist Rebecca Quinn sang a hymn, accompanied by her mother, Karen, on the organ, and among the other hymns sung in the service was St Ninian’s Hymn.
After the service, the congregation walked the short distance to the parish hall for refreshments and speeches, and to see Bishop Andrew and the church wardens cut a special 200th anniversary cake, decorated with an image of the church building.
Parishioners and friends of All Saints’ Clooney gathered in church on Sunday 15th November 2024 to see one of their own members, Bobby Keys, commissioned as a Diocesan Lay Reader by Rt Rev Andrew Forster, at a service led by the parish’s recently ordained Curate, Rev Mel Niblock.
Bobby has been a lifelong member of All Saints’ Church where he already fulfils many roles. He sits on the Select Vestry, leads the Monday Morning Bible Study, oversees the Confirmation Class and also sings with the choir.
Bobby’s wife, Tanya, looked on proudly as her husband was commissioned by Bishop Andrew.
In his sermon, the Bishop suggested that many of those present might have been wondering what a Diocesan Lay Reader was. “A Lay Reader’s somebody who has authority within the diocese to lead services and to preach God’s word,” Bishop Andrew said, “and those of us who know Bobby well will know how well-fitted he is as someone to lead services and to preach the word of God.”
Bishop Andrew said a number of people in church this morning had been blessed by the Bible studies that Bobby had led, blessed by his spiritual wisdom and by his biblical knowledge. “We know, Bobby, that what happens next – as this ministry opens out for you – is that more and more people will be blessed by your wisdom, by your kindness, by your spiritual perception and by your wisdom in passing on the word of God. So, thank you for responding to the call of God to this important role.
“And thank you – the family of God in All Saints’ Clooney – for nurturing Bobby to that role, for helping him see this role as something that God has called him to. This is a good day, and a really important day for Bobby, for this parish and for the whole diocese.”
The Old Testament and Gospel readings at today’s service were delivered by Parish Reader George Keys and music was provided by the All Saints choir.
After the service, many members of the congregation enjoyed lunch a short distance away from the church, in the All Saints’ Centre, where a celebratory cake was cut to mark the occasion.
There was a tremendous outpouring of affection – and not a few tears – in All Saints Newtowncunningham on Sunday 1st September 2024 as the parishioners of the Taughboyne Group gathered to bid farewell to Rev Canon David Crooks, who retired as their rector after 40 years’ faithful service.
The church was packed to overflowing as the chapter closed on a remarkable ministry in east Donegal. There were two bishops present for the occasion: Bishop Andrew Forster, who preached the sermon, and Canon Crooks’ brother-in-law, Rt Rev Hall Speers, who retired recently as Bishop of Mahajanga in Madagascar. Canon Crooks wife, Anne, his sister Cynthia Cherry and brother Vaughan were in All Saints for the special occasion.
Bishop Andrew described it as “a day of mixed emotions” for those present. “I hope that today will have that feeling of deep thankfulness, of sincere gratitude, as we gather in the name of God to celebrate David and to celebrate his saviour whom David has served with such distinction over such a long time.”
The decision to retire had been a difficult one, Bishop Andrew said. “There has been much prayer and much soul-searching, but we know that the time is right and we want to bless you as you embark on this new chapter of life.”
There was a ripple of laughter in the church as the preacher disclosed that Canon Crooks’ ministry began 47 years ago, when the Bishop was only 10 years old. On that occasion, the much younger Rev David Crooks was ordained by the then-Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Robin Eames, for the Parish of Glendermott. There followed a brief sojourn to the Diocese of Edinburgh before Canon Crooks returned to his beloved Diocese of Raphoe to serve in the Taughboyne Group of Parishes.
“Today actually ends the longest current incumbency in the Church of Ireland,” Bishop Andrew said. “In other words, there’s no other clergy person in the Church of Ireland who has served to this time 40 years in their parish. It also ends the longest time of Cathedral dignitary in the Church of Ireland, from David taking up his role as a Canon of St Eunan’s Cathedral in Raphoe. So, it certainly is a momentous day.”
Much had changed in the parishes since Canon Crooks’ incumbency had begun, the Bishop said. “Forty years ago, when David came to this parish, the Troubles were still raging. The border, which I crossed this morning, was still fortified and guarded. Traditional farming was still the lifeblood of this area that has changed so much in those 40 years. People lived in the countryside, involved in agriculture. There’s been so much that has changed in 40 years, so much cultural change, so much societal change, so much that is different from what it was back in 1984.”
During his 40-year incumbency, Canon Crooks had become part of his parishioners’ lives, Bishop Andrew said. “He’s been there for you. He’s been with you parishioners through good times and hard times. He’s been with you through the changes of society and the changes of life. He has been with you through high points and low points. He has ministered to generations of your families, so it’s hard to imagine the parishes without him. And that’s why we’re here today: because we’re thankful for 40 years of David being part of our lives; thankful for 40 years of David ministering and loving and caring, hearts filled with thankfulness and gratitude.”
Bishop Andrew thanked Canon Crooks for his service to the wider diocese as Diocesan Registrar and membership of various diocesan committees, and for his contribution as a representative canon of our national Cathedral, St Patrick’s in Dublin.
Canon Crooks was assisted during today’s service by Diocesan Reader Mrs Maureen Williams, who led the worship; Rev Canon Mervyn Peoples; and Rev Sean McClafferty. Mr Terence West gave the Old Testament reading (Deuteronomy 2:2-7); Bishop Speers read the Epistle (from James 1:17-27); Rev McClafferty read the Gospel (Mark 7: verses 1-8, 14-15 and 21-23). Prayers were led by Mr William Moore.
Music for the service was provided by Mr Tommy Bradley who surrendered the organist’s seat to Canon Crooks for the recessional hymn.
After the service, refreshments were served and speeches made in the nearby hall. Canon Crooks thanked the many parishioners who had assisted him in his ministry over his four decades of service in the Taughboyne Group. His warmest words of appreciation, though, were reserved for his wife, Anne, who he said had been a pillar of support. “I thank you one and all for your love and support,” he said, to loud and prolonged applause. “Thank you for putting up with me for so long. May God bless each and every one of you and your homes, and guide you in faith into the future. Thank you again, with all my heart.”