Diocesan News
Daybreak Service at Gartan marks start of Columban year of celebration
Church leaders in the North West gathered at St Colmcille’s Abbey near Church Hill in Donegal, early this morning, for a Service marking the beginning of a year of celebrations of Saint Columba, his life and legacy.
The lakes at Gartan provided an icy but stunning backdrop for the service, which began shortly after daybreak, just a few hundred metres from where the saint is reputed to have been born.
The Church of Ireland, Roman Catholic and Presbyterian Churches were represented at today’s service, which was recorded for broadcast on the Colmcille 1500 website.
The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev Andrew Forster, the Bishop of Raphoe, the Rev Alan McGuckian, the Moderator of the Donegal and Derry Presbytery, the Rev Thomas Bruce, the Curate at St Colmcille’s Church, Glendowan, Fr Micheal McKeever, the Rector of Conwal with Gartan, the Rev David Houlton and Associate Minister, the Rev Heather Houlton, prayed together in an outdoor service that complied with public health guidelines. Music was provided by Donegal singer Maggie McAteer.
After the service, the two bishops and the two Church of Ireland ministers visited Gartan National School, near Church Hill, where senior pupils performed a hymn they had written about St Columba.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Derry & Raphoe
Mr Paul McFadden
028 7126 2440
07525 826290
press@derryandraphoe.org