NEWS BRIEFS

Clerical appointments

Kilkeel – Revd Canon Alison Calvin (above) who has been appointed incumbent of the parish of Kilkeel in the Diocese of Dromore. Alison (or Ali as she is known) is currently rector of Killeshandra in Kilmore diocese. Speaking of her appointment Ali said: “It’s an honour to have been appointed to Christ Church Kilkeel. I am extremely sad to be leaving the parish and people of Killeshandra who have become so dear to me over these 10 blessed years, but am equally thrilled at the new door God has opened, and look forward to getting to know the people of Kilkeel as we seek to serve God’s Kingdom purposes together.” The date of the institution will be announced in due course.

Ballyholme – Revd Jan Stevenson (above) is to become part–time Community Pastor in Ballyholme Parish. She has been appointed by the Select Vestry and will join the team led by the rector, Canon Simon Doogan.

Simon said, “Jan draws on a wealth of ministry experience from Lisburn Cathedral, St Patrick’s Coleraine and most recently Braniel Community Church. Her remit in St Columbanus will be to explore new opportunities for outreach in our local Ballyholme community alongside fresh expressions of worship, especially on Sunday evenings. Hence Jan’s working title: ‘Community Pastor’. By its nature an organic and unchartered brief, Jan will work with Vestry, Staff Team and parish families and members more generally to identify potential areas of new service and growth.”

Jan commented: “Although I am very sad to be leaving Braniel Community church I am excited by the prospect of what God has planned for me and my family to be a part of in Ballyholme parish. Sam has lived in Ballyholme and Bangor all his life and I have already enjoyed 15 years here, so we come with a heart to see God’s Kingdom advance.” Jan assumes her new role from Tuesday 1 October.

Memorial to faithful Cork churchwoman

On Sunday 22nd September, in the Church of Saint Lappan, Little Island, County Cork a memorial to Betty Haynes was dedicated during the Sunday Eucharist. Betty was a much loved member of the parish community who dedicated much of her life to the well being and benefit of the parish. Her husband Bobby is the sexton at Saint Lappan’s. Having dedicated the memorial, the Reverend Paul Arbuthnot, Rector of Cobh and Glanmire Union of Parishes commented:
“This is a fitting tribute to Betty who was, and is still much loved by the parish community. In this memorial, we are reminded that she is very much a part of the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us, and who surround us on our earthly pilgrimage. We are indebted to those members of the Select Vestry who brought this memorial to fruition. We also remember with deep gratitude and affection the late Reverend Adrian Moran who did so much to make this happen.”

Carrickmacross Celebration of Animals

In Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, on Thursday evening at 7.15pm, there will be a Celebration of Animals Service in St Finbarre’s parish church to which all members of the community and their pets are welcome. Donations on the evening will be in aid of Collon Animal Sanctuary in support of its work in re–housing and caring for unwanted animals of all varieties.

Former Organist at Belfast Cathedral

The death has taken place in Fredricton, Canada, of Mr David Drinkell, a former Organist and Master of the Choristers here at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. Prior to coming to Belfast he had been organist at St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney. He is survived by his wife Elspeth .

Secrets of town’s past unearthed

Fascinating insights into Dundalk’s past have been unearthed during the major regeneration works in Clanbrassil Street and Church Street and more are waiting to be found.

As part of the multi-million Euro project, the work is monitored on an ongoing basis to see if any archaeological finds are revealed by the contractors as they remove layers of earth beneath the footpaths and street surfaces.

Once it emerged last month that medieval deposits had been encountered, Louth County Council immediately employed a team of archaeologists from the Irish firm Archaeology Plan to examine the site to determine what exactly had been found, and to carry out excavation work and record any materials of interest which were discovered.

The archaeologists began working on a number of locations in early September and the local authority hopes that this will give an indication as to impact which the discoveries will have on the progress of the work.

So far, their focus has been on four locations: St Nicholas’ Roman Catholic Church, St Nicholas Church of Ireland, Church Street and Clanbrassil Street.

Medieval deposits were found at 800-1000mm below the finished road level in watermain trench near St Nicholas RC Church. These included a quantity of pottery fragments, pieces of leather, animal bone and preserved wood. Cira 1400-1500’s.

The remains of a medieval fortified Tower house were discovered in the Green Church Car park. This would have been one of a number of such buildings which stood in Dundalk and were subsequently demolished in 1747 at Lord Limericks insistence. This has been preserved in-situ.

The partial remains of a human skull were also found at this location and following investigation were deemed to be part of the original graveyard. This now been preserved in situ

Fragments of pottery, shells and animal bone dating from the medieval period were found at 600-800mm below the finished road level at different sections of Clanbrassil Street.

As the contractors moved into Curch Street, they also unearth a Medieval Surface at 350mm to 940mm below the finished road level in watermain trench as well as a metalled layer at 940mm below existing road surface. These were found to contain fragments of pottery, shells and animal bone. The full extent of the archaeological remains in this area have still to be determined as Phase 10 works have yet to commence due to sequencing restrictions.

Big Sing in Enniskilen

Yesterday, Sunday 29th September – Enniskillen Memorial fundraising ‘Big Sing’ took place St. Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen when St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church Choir along with the Methodist Church Choir and the Presbyterian Church Choir joined with St Macartin’s Cathedral Choir. As churches together they invited the community to gather together to raise money to assist in completing the memorial project. This successful agreed outcome has produced a plan which integrates the existing memorial into a larger memorial which will visually connect the War Memorial to the Enniskillen Memorial. It will be a very fitting tribute to those who lost their lives. The target for the project is £15,000.

Food for thought

It remains the task of every generation to reflect upon and understand the mystery of God and the challenges faced across society; ‘to read the signs of the times’. – Bishop Noel Treanor of Down & Connor