Happy Birthday Killyleagh Parish Church!
One of the oldest churches in the diocese, St John the Evangelist, Killyleagh Parish Church, has celebrated its 375th birthday with a special concert hosted by BBC Radio Ulster’s Karen Patterson (right).
The Kerygma Good News Choir, fresh from their recent concert in Belfast Cathedral, Paul Young, Principal Trumpet with the Ulster Orchestra and soprano, Jana Walsh, performed on Saturday evening 28 November to an appreciative audience. It was also a delight to have St John’s Kidz Choir take part.
Special guests included Dean Henry Hull, Bishop Harold Miller, Councillor William Walker, Jim Shannon MP, and Bishop Edward and Mrs Patricia Darling. Mrs Darling’s father was Rector of Killyleagh from 1935 till 1963. She was baptised in the parish church and the Bishop and Patricia were married there on 2nd August 1958.
Click here to see some photos.
With the congregation and performers in full voice, guests were able to reflect on the history and background of St John’s, surrounded by the ornate stained glass windows, towering walls and beautifully crafted furniture, some of which dates back to 1640.
A recent article took a closer look at the history of the church up until 1811, when the current building was constructed, but with clearer and more reliable records starting in 1787, it becomes easier to follow its growth over the next 200 years.
The spire, which is visible right across Strangford Lough, was added in 1825 by Lord Dufferin, while there is evidence of further renovation to the church found in an article published by the Down Recorder on the 14th May 1859, stating that the church was reopened after being closed for four months.
During this time square pews were replaced with open seats and the records state “that despite this extra seating, there was not adequate space for the congregation”. Gas lighting followed in 1866, and a new bell was installed in the spire in 1875, presented by Catherine Ann Hamilton of Killyleagh Castle.
Shortly afterwards, the church was further expanded to cater to an ever growing congregation, as another article from the Down Recorder in 1877 documents the addition of a side aisle and chancel, new stained glass windows, choir stalls and a new Walker organ.
During this time the roof was also raised, which meant that the church had to close for a number of weeks and services were temporarily moved to the Martin Hall in Shrigley.
With this work completed, the church stood almost as it does today, as there were only a small number of fixtures and furnishings consecrated over the coming years, along with some lighter restoration projects and general maintenance to modernise facilities.
It was in 1940 that the Holy Table, Communion linen, prayer desk, pulpit desk and bible were gifted to the church by parishioners, families and friends, and these are some of the most intricate and beautiful features of the church today.
Alongside the stained glass windows, many of the stalls and panels still bear ornate carvings of peacocks, snakes and other Celtic designs, some of which date back hundreds of years and tie in with the traditional imagery and teachings of the day, when pagan symbols were prominent in Christian teachings.
By Andrew McClenaghan
Pictured below L–R: Dean Henry Hull, Bishop Harold, Councillor William Walker, Karen Patterson, Jim Shannon MP, Bishop and Mrs Edward Darling.
