Diocesan News
St Bartholomew’s, Stranmillis, celebrates its centenary
St Bartholomew’s Parish, Stranmillis, will be celebrating 100 years of worship and witness with a series of events over the weekend of May 10–12.
It was on April 27 1919, that St Bartholomew’s District Church received full parochial status, becoming the Parish of St Bartholomew, Stranmillis.
The centenary celebrations begin with a Parish Supper on Friday May 10 in the Canon Lindsay Hall, named after the first rector of the Parish, the Rev Herbert O Lindsay, who served as rector until 1958. The supper takes place at 7.30pm, and booking is required.
On Saturday May 11 there will be a Photographic and Artefact Exhibition in Canon Lindsay Hall open from 11am until 5pm. Refreshments will be available.
On Sunday May 12 the rector, the Rev Canon Kevin Graham, will preside over Thanksgiving Eucharist at 10.30am, and at 3.30pm Choral Evensong the parish welcomes The Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, as guest preacher.
Until late in the 19th century, the Stranmillis Road was a country road stretching to the River Lagan and the first lock on its canal.
By the turn of the century there were many new streets. The area was within the parish of St Thomas and in 1906 a lease was taken on a hall in which local church activities could then be held.
Later, a District Church was built and was dedicated by the Bishop of Down and Connor and Dromore, on Easter Day 1913.
In 1919 the new parish of St Bartholomew was created, incorporating areas from the parishes of St Thomas and Malone. Mr Lindsay had been in charge of the new parish since its inception, having been curate since 1913.
In 1925 the lease of a two–acre site at Mount Pleasant was purchased. The foundation stone was laid on February 9 1929, and the church was consecrated on September 13 1930.
The centenary celebrations will give thanks for all those who have given witness to Christ in this place for these many years and pray for God’s blessings for the future.
For further details and booking enquiries please contact stbartholomew@connor.anglican.org
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Connor
07766 103880
Mrs Karen Bushby
dco@connordiocese.org