DAILY NEWS

Cathedral empty on Sunday for first time in 400 years – special report on Fermanagh churches

The Impartial Reporter carried the following report by Jessica Campbell
on the response of clergy and churches in County Fermanagh to the coronavirus pandemic,

Jessica Campbell writes –

With regular Sunday worship cancelled across the county due to the coronavirus pandemic, a number of local clergy found other means to continue leading their congregations at this time, with many video recording their Sunday services and live-streaming or uploading them to various digital platforms.

On Sunday, March 22, clergy from across the Church of Ireland Clogher Diocese, led their Sunday services from their homes or from their church building, but with no congregation in attendance.

At St. Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen, Dean Kenneth Hall continued worship as a congregation of one.

Commenting that it was a “rather strange feeling” to see the main street of Enniskillen, that is always buzzing with worshippers, completely deserted, Dean Hall continued: “It is even more strange to be entering the back door of the Cathedral to a place empty of parishioners except myself, and of course the presence of the Lord.”

“Today as a congregation of one (myself) I will continue the worship on this site that has gone on for over 400 years as I say morning prayer and pray for all our parishioners and the needs of the world,” said Dean Hall on Sunday morning.

Canon Ian Ellis recorded a shortened form of Morning Prayer for Mothering Sunday from Rossorry Church, which was broadcast to his parishioners via Facebook.

Archdeacon Brian Harper, Rector of Magheracross Parish Church in Ballinamallard led Sunday worship from his living room which was video streamed live on Facebook. The service was also recorded to CD for parishioners who didn’t have access to the social media platform.

At Lisbellaw Parish Church on Sunday morning, Rector of the church Reverend Stephanie Woods rang the church bell herself to remind her parishioners to pray during this unprecedented time.

Reverend Johnny McLoughlin Rector of Aghavea Parish in Clogher Diocese led Sunday worship from his home which he live-streamed to Facebook whilst Canon Alan Irwin of Colaghty Parish Church in Lack gave a message from the church building which was then uploaded online for his parishioners at home.

Reverend Dr. David Cupples of Enniskillen Presbyterian Church recorded his Sunday service and uploaded it to YouTube. He encouraged his congregation to collectively participate by viewing it from their homes at 11am on Sunday morning.

Minister of Ballinamallard and Trillick Methodist Church, the Reverend John Beacom recorded an audio version of his Sunday service which he sent to his congregation via Whatsapp and later uploaded it to SoundCloud to be listened to online.

“I hope it’s a light of hope and encouragement in the weeks that lie ahead,” said Reverend Beacom.

Across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Clogher, parishioners were encouraged to unite in prayer during this time by joining with each other online using whatever devices available.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Clogher said: “The Christian community in each parish and throughout the diocese should unite in prayer at this time. All of us are encouraged to join with each other online, in local or neighbouring parish and with parishes elsewhere across the diocese and the world, in prayerful solidarity via webcam, radio broadcasts and TV, using whatever devices are available.”

A schedule of online celebrations of Mass across the Diocese of Clogher, together with information on Radio and TV Masses, are available via the diocese’s website.


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