Mar 05 2023

Canon David McBeth ‘thrilled’ by new appointments

The Rector of All Saints Clooney, Rev David McBeth, has been appointed a Canon of St Columb’s Cathedral and Rural Dean for Derry, in both cases succeeding Rev Paul Whittaker who retired last weekend. The new Canon shared the news with his parishioners on Sunday morning. He described the news as “a thrill” not just…

Feb 26 2023

Encouraging turn-out for first post-Covid Confirmation Day

Around 40 young people attended our first post-Covid Confirmation Day, in Stranorlar, on Saturday 25th February, 2023. They gathered in the Parish Hall, next to St Mary’s Church, for a day of biblical teaching combined with activities. The get-together was organised by the Diocesan Youth Officer for Derry and Raphoe, Claire Hinchliff, who was assisted…

Feb 22 2023

Bishop condemns attempted murder of police officer in Omagh

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Right Reverend Andrew Forster, has condemned the attempted murder of a police officer in Omagh, on Wednesday evening, as “callous and evil”. The off-duty officer was shot a number of times at a sports complex on the Killyclogher Road and was taken from there to Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry…

Feb 13 2023

Bishops’ Appeal 50th anniversary video

A video marking the 50th anniversary of the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal for World Aid and Development was presented at our General Synod in Belfast, last May. It includes contributions from those involved in organising the work of Bishops’ Appeal and agencies which have benefitted from its support over many years. Given the recent…

Feb 13 2023

Transplantation – ‘the gift of life’

St Augustine’s Church in Londonderry was the venue, on Sunday afternoon (12th February 2023), for a Remembrance Service with a difference – one held to honour those who had been associated with renal services in any way. The poignant service was organised by the Altnagelvin Renal Support Group and led by the Rector of St…

Jan 26 2023

Toddler brightens up Church unity event

A minister’s young son provoked joyful laughter in Clooney Methodist Church when he interrupted an evening service arranged by churches in Londonderry’s Waterside area to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It was part of a joint initiative, on Wednesday 25th January 2023, which drew around 80 people who walked to each other’s…

Jan 26 2023

Christian Unity walk 2023

Around 40 members of the four main Churches in Derry-Londonderry, including the city’s two bishops, took part in a walk through the city centre on the evening of Monday 23rd January, 2023 to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The participants had gathered outside First Londonderry Presbyterian Church, inside the City Walls, for…

Jan 22 2023

Special service marks centenary of Churches working together

The Irish Council of Churches – one of the world’s oldest national representative church bodies – celebrated its centenary with a special service of worship in Belfast Cathedral this afternoon (22nd January). The service, with the theme ‘Celebrating our Reconciling Vision of Hope’ took place on the eve of the Council’s first meeting 100 years…

Jan 22 2023

Prayers answered in Inver

A new Rector has been appointed to the Inver Group of Parishes in south west Donegal. She is Rev Susan Elliott, a South African national, who lives with her husband, Don – a lay preacher – in Haenertsburg, in South Africa’s northernmost province, Limpopo. Rev Elliott was born in Durban and trained as a teacher,…

Jan 18 2023

Warm welcome for Peruvian visitors

Diocese of Derry and Raphoe Public The parishioners of Camus-Juxta-Mourne (Strabane) have been rolling out a sometimes snow-dusted red carpet for a special group of visitors this past week. They have been renewing acquaintance with Pastor Anderson Sanchez, his wife Isabel, and their children Jacob and Ivana, whom some of the Tyrone parishioners first befriended…