The congregation of Carrick Parish Church were told by Bishop Andrew that the opening of their new hall on Sunday 14th September (2025) had put “a smile on the face of God”. The broad smiles on people’s faces belied the rather damp conditions as the parishioners were joined by friends from their sister churches in the Aghanloo, Balteagh, Carrick and Tamlaghtard Group and guests from elsewhere to celebrate what the Rector, Rev Rhys Jones, called the most significant day in Carrick’s history.
The tiny church enjoys a stunning location, in the heart of the Roe Valley, beside the famous Country Park and overlooking a scenic stretch of the River Roe. And the parish team showed extraordinary resourcefulness, as they rose to the logistical challenge of hosting such a large-scale event. A minibus service was laid on to ferry visitors to the church, and a large marquee was erected in the grounds to accommodate the overspill from the much larger than usual congregation.
The Rector began by extending a “heartfelt welcome” to everyone in the church – and in the marquee – on a “really prestigious day” in the 180-year history of Carrick Church. “Carrick was built some 179 or 180 years ago,” Rev Rhys said, “and without question this is the most significant day in the life and witness of this church and its people. I want to thank you all with sincerity for being here as we join in celebration, thanking the God of providence and grace for giving us the strength and the wherewithal to complete the task that was set before us some five or six years ago.” The Rector thanked everyone who had “contributed financially, or in terms of time or prayerfully, or who gave of yourselves in any way to make this hall a reality for its people and the wider locality. So, God bless you and thank you on behalf of the Select Vestry of this parish.
In his sermon, Bishop Andrew said it was wonderful to be there on such a special day, to see this hall – which had been a pipedream for so long – being opened. “And now we have this wonderful, wonderful example of what can happen when the children of God come together,” he said, “His people gather together, as they work together to see this new hall open, and to say, ‘Well done, congratulations’. This is wonderful, this is a dream come true for this parish that we are so thankful to God for, today.”
As an occasional walker in Roe Valley Country Park, Bishop Andrew is familiar with the area in which the church and the new hall are located, and he said he was always struck on his visits by the beauty of the area. “Your group of parishes must be the most picturesque parish churches in our diocese, with beautiful views, beautiful settings, beautiful buildings. We’re here in Carrick and sometimes I come here myself and take a walk down across the little bridge and go for a nice walk around. It’s just beautiful, such a picturesque place, and we’re so thankful for the beauty of what surrounds us. But much, much more than that, this isn’t just a place of beauty in the setting beside the river, in the valley beside us; what we know is the beauty of the family of God that meets here; the family of God that has been a blessing for 180 years for the parish here; and the family of God building a new hall to help continue to build the Kingdom of God here.”
Bishop Andrew complimented the parish on the prudent stewardship and extraordinary generosity that had brought the new hall into being. “Not one penny is owed on this hall. It’s all paid for. Isn’t that remarkable? What a wonderful testament to the people of this parish; to the generosity, to the hard work, to the sacrificial giving; for the time that you have given, the work that you have given; and you have this beautiful hall that just sits so well in its landscape – this beautiful church, this beautiful hall, this beautiful parish – this is wonderful, and God has done great things.
“You know, this puts a smile on the face not just of you, not just of every parishioner, not just on the face of everyone in the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe. I believe this puts a smile on the face of God.
“For far too long we have talked about the Church declining, the Church in retrenchment, ‘the Church isn’t what it should be’. I want to tell you, God is at work. God is at work. The Church is growing. The Church is turning a new chapter, a new chapter of the Church reaching out, standing up, showing the Good News of Jesus Christ, and we want to witness to the vibrancy of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. God is at work.
“For so long, I think, we have looked back and thought that all the big days of the Church were in the past. We looked back and thought, you know, that’s the way it used to be. We thought, ‘Only, if only, we were the way we used to be’. But yet, I want to tell you that the best days are yet to come, that God is at work, that the secularism of our society – many people of my generation have walked away from Church – and now younger people are saying that secularism hasn’t worked, and we see young people coming back to Church, young people wanting to know something about the reality of faith in Jesus Christ. That’s what’s happening across the world. And I think what you’re doing in Carrick is saying you’re ready, ‘We’re ready to reach out, we want to see the Church growing, that the best days are not just the days behind us, today the best is yet to come, that God is at work,’ and what you’re doing in this wonderful parish is saying God is alive. We’re witnessing to the vibrancy of faith.”
During today’s Service of Praise and Thanksgiving, Bishop Andrew first dedicated a newly-purchased church organ (which was played throughout today’s worship by the parish organist Ann Gibson). Then the Bishop, the Rector and the church wardens – accompanied by the congregation – moved outside the church to plant an oak tree in the grounds (as a memorial to the parishioners’ loved ones). Bishop Andrew dedicated the gateway to the new parish hall in memory of the late Louis McFarland (a warden and “stalwart” of the parish for many years).
At the new hall itself, William Purcell – who donated the site for the building – unveiled a plaque by the front doorway, before Bishop Andrew dedicated the hall, cut the ceremonial ribbon and declared the hall open. Inside the hall, members of the McGarrigle family looked on as the Bishop finally dedicated an interactive whiteboard donated in memory of All Saints’ Clooney parishioner Leanne McGarrigle.
After the formalities, the congregation and guests enjoyed hospitality and fellowship, with refreshments served in the hall and a BBQ laid on at the marquee, where entertainment was provided for the children present. Throughout the post-service festivities, the Roe Valley Stompers band entertained their audience with a lively performance of popular jazz and swing favourites.
