24.06.2013
Glenealy Church Restoration Work Dedicated
Restoration work at Glenealy Parish Church has been dedicated by Archbishop Michael Jackson. The work, which was carried out thanks to a group of dedicated parishioners, included tarmacing the drive, reroofing the church tower and internal improvements as well as work on the graveyard wall and entrance.
The work was largely funded through a grant from a levy on the nearby Ballynagran Landfill operation. Further assistance came from a grant from the RCB.
This was his first visit to the church in Glenealy but the Archbishop said he felt an affinity with it as he had studied and worshiped in St John’s College in Cambridge, which tradition holds, inspired the collegiate nature of the internal layout of the church.
The Archbishop’s visit to Glenealy was an occasion of celebration, not just for the local congregation, but for the whole group of parishes which includes Rathdrum and Derralossary and Laragh, with parishioners traveling to join the festivities for a united service. During the celebration of Holy Communion Archbishop Jackson used a chalice which dated from 1709 which had been a gift to Derralossary Church making a link between the history of Glenealy and the wider parish grouping.
A group of committed parishioners led the most recent programme of works which include the tarmacing of the drive, rebuilding of the graveyard wall with the insertion of a small gate and widening of the main gateway to the graveyard. The tower has been re–roofed, a new staircase to the balcony installed, the interior re–painted and the communion table cleaned and polished.
Following the dedication and Eucharist the congregation partook of delightful refreshments served in beautiful sunshine with plenty of conversation. Many plaudits were given to the group of parish children who shared the reading of the gospel. There was admiration for the various improvements and for the willing contribution of skills and time and equipment given by parishioners in support of the craftsmen employed on the project.