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Prayer Service for Pentecost takes place this weekend

 

This year’s annual ecumenical service on Pentecost Sunday will take place on Sunday, 24th May at 3pm and will be led by both Bishops of Clogher at St. Macartan’s Church, known as the Forth Chapel on the outskirts of Clogher.

St. Macartan’s, The Forth Chapel, is well known having came out top from more than 180 nominations and claimed the top UK-wide prestigious title of Church of the Year 2022 at the inaugural National Church Awards in London. It was completed in 1846 and several renovations and refurbishments have taken place over the years.

The Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher, the Right Revd Dr. Ian Ellis and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher, the Most Revd Larry Duffy, will participate in the service which begins at 3pm. They will also be joined by local ministers from churches in the district.

During the service, a number of young people will give their reflections on Pentecost and the praise will be led by local singers.

Since 2000, the Roman Catholic and Church or Ireland bishops of Clogher have come together, along with members of their respective Church communities to mark together the Day of Pentecost or Pentecost Sunday, as it also known. The Day of Pentecost marks the end of the fifty-day season of Easter. Moreover, it marks the descent of the Holy Spirit in the upper room and the beginning of apostolic preaching, thus marking a defining moment in the origin of the Christian Church.

Each year, a site of historic significance in different parts of the diocese is chosen to host this Ecumenical Service.

St. Macartan’s is named after the Patron Saint of the Diocese and stands in the centre of an early Irish Hillfort. The Forth Chapel, as it is known locally, evolved through time as a corruption of the word ‘Fort’ and construction was completed in 1846.

Until 1866, St. Macartan’s, The Forth Chapel, was the Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Clogher (then moved to Monaghan on the opening of the newly built Cathedral there).

Further work was carried out at the Church to include a bell tower and installation of significant stained glass windows and a Window Restoration Project won the 2021 Heritage Angel Award, an outstanding accolade. St. Macartan’s, The Forth Chapel, came out top from more than 180 nominations and claimed the top UK-wide prestigious title of Church of the Year 2022 at the inaugural National Church Awards in London. In addition to taking the top Church of the Year Award, St. Macartan’s also won the Northern Ireland category in the Naylor Awards for Church excellence. These awards led to many visitors.

St. Macartan’s has a close connection to Bishop John Hughes (1797-1864) who was a native of the local area and was baptised in the Forth Chapel. At the age of 16 he was employed as a gardener in the old Favour Royal Estate. He emigrated to America in 1817 and trained as a Priest. Following his ordination he served in the Diocese of Philadelphia. In 1838 he moved to New York and became the first Archbishop of New York where he worked hard to relieve the distress of the Irish emigrants there. Archbishop Hughes’s influence is still evident in New York City with buildings he inspired.

Date and Time of Service: Sunday, 24 May at 3pm.

Directions: The address is; St. Macartan’s Church, Springtown Rd, Augher BT77 0EA.
From Clogher village continue towards Augher and take the right turn for Old Monaghan Road/B83 and then continue along Rosie’s Lane.