The Church of Ireland Diocese of Armagh

News

New Rector for Drumcree Parish

The Revd Gary Galway who is at present the curate assistant in St Mark's Church, Portadown, has been appointed as Rector of Drumcree Parish. The institution will take place after the summer.

The Four Church Leaders visit to the Holy Land

Keeping Watch: a service of hope for peace held at the Shepherd’s Field, outside Bethlehem, was one of the highlights of the recent visit by the leaders of the four main Churches in Ireland, including the Most Revd Alan Harper, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

This is the holy site where the Angel of the Lord visited the shepherds, told them not to be afraid, and informed them of Jesus' birth. Here, alongside many local Christians who packed the Ecumenical chapel, the Irish leaders offered hope to their Christian brothers and sisters and people of all faiths in today’s Holy Land which is so embroiled by conflict. The service included prayers of thanks for all that has been achieved the Irish peace process and the new understandings that are now emerging in Ireland; it acknowledged the positive Irish links that have existed in the region, most especially through the relief work of aid agencies Trócaire and Christian Aid, and offered hope to those who are suffering so much, that a treaty of peace might come to “bring to an end to the occupation imposed by one people on another, granting freedom to Palestinians, giving security to Israelis, and freeing all from fear”.

The service, which was broadcast on Irish radio, captures the essence of the Church leaders’ visit, and is available on the RTE website: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/religion/Bethlehem2008.html

On the Sunday 8th June 2008, the Churches in Israel and Palestine have invited Christians around the world to pray with them “the Jerusalem Prayer” for a just peace. At last week’s General Synod a special motion was unanimously passed urging every church to use the prayer as part of their liturgy and worship on that day.

It would be empowering to the 2% of Christians left in today’s Holy Land – the “living stones” who continue to live, worship and preserve the holiest places for Christians - to know that we would do as they have invited us to do, and pray with them on that date.

The Queen at the Maundy Service in St Patricks'

Images kindly provided by Harrison Photography (www.harrisonphotography.co.uk )

(more...)

Images from Bishop Harper's Enthronement

Primus of Scotland (Rt Revd Dr Idris Jones ), Archbishop of Armagh (Most Revd Alan Harper)

Archbishop of Wales (Most Revd Dr Barry Morgan), Archbishop of Armagh (Most Revd Alan Harper)

(more...)

Former Archbishop accepts Tipperary International Peace Prize in names of parochial clergy

Former Archbishop of Armagh and Church of Ireland Primate of All-Ireland, The Rt Revd Dr Robin Eames, received Tipperary International Peace Award this afternoon in Tipperary Town saying that he did so in the names of parochial clergy of the Church of Ireland and the clergy of all the denominations on the island and of the many ordinary people who have never received acknowledgement for working towards peace. (more...)

Archbishop Harper’s Easter Message:

The Easter message of the triumph of life over death and hope over despair is reinforced for all of us in Ireland this year. We may not have put behind us all of the legacy of a troubled past, but so much has happened that promises new beginnings and a future liberated from the chains of the past, that we are surely right to celebrate with additional joy and conviction.(more...)