Archbishop Clarke leads Cairncastle bicentenary service

Pictured before the service celebrating 200 years at St Patrick's, Cairncastle. Included are Archbishop of Armagh the Most Rev Dr Richard
Clarke, and the Rt Revd Alan Abernethy, Bishop of Connor. INLT 20-629-CON — Pictured before the service celebrating 200 years at St Patrick's, Cairncastle. Included are Archbishop of Armagh the Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, and the Rt Revd Alan Abernethy, Bishop of Connor. INLT 20-629-CON

The celebration continued with a festive meal afterwards in the Halfway House Hotel, Ballygally.

Proceedings began with a communion service led by Roger Thompson, Rector of Kilwaughter & Cairncastle with All Saints’, Craigyhill. Welcoming the many visitors, he introduced the preacher, the Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh, and celebrant the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, Bishop of Connor.

Other special guests included newly re-elected MP Sammy Wilson, Cllr Billy Ashe (Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough), former rectors of the parish and representatives from other local churches, both Catholic and Protestant.

The rousing worship was led by organist Derick Jenkins with an anthem and other pieces provided by a choir specially recruited for the occasion.

Lessons were read by Lay Reader Tom Irwin and former rector, Canon Bill McNee, before Archbishop Clarke spoke on the theme of “Where have you come from, where are you now and where are you going?” He looked back to 1815 when St Patrick’s was built at a time of great confidence and growth in the church, noting the very different circumstances today.

If the church of today is to regain that confidence, said the archbishop, we must commit ourselves to a life of prayer and have the courage to move beyond the preservation of the past.

After the service, the festivities continued with a meal at the Halfway House Hotel, where Roger presented the visiting clergy with limited edition prints of the church, from a painting by local artist Rosalind Fair. He also spoke of his forthcoming move to a new job with mission and development agency CMS Ireland, thanking the parish for all their support over the last 11 years.

Together with his wife Fiona, and sons Kieran and Nathan, Roger said they had been greatly blessed by their time living in the area, and will be sad to leave. Nevertheless, he was looking forward to his new role as Partnership Coordinator, which will involve liaising between churches in Ireland and projects in various developing countries in Africa and Asia.