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News
Devenish Parish 125th Anniversary Celebrations
The Bishop Revd Sampson Ajuka Canon James Carson and Mrs Joan Cathcart
On Sunday 27th September Devenish Parish Church held their 125th Anniversary Service.
The service was conducted by the Revd Sampson Ajuka and the preacher was the Revd Canon James Carson, who was rector during the Parish Centenary Celebrations in 1990. Bishop John McDowell and Joan Cathcart, parish reader also took part in the service. The readers were Stuart Brooker and Pearl Bell. The choir led by organist Gill Spence sang the anthem Faithful one' by Doerksen.
After the service the parish provided tea for the congregation in the Reade Hall. Revd Ajuka chaired proceedings. The anniversary cake was baked by Arlene Little was cut by Joyce McCammon and Ruth Woods, daughters of Chancellor Allister. Speakers included Bishop John McDowell, the Revd Canon James Carson, the Revd Derek Kerr, the Revd Stanley Bourke, the Revd Ngozi Njoku, Mr Geoffrey Allister, Fr. Jimmy McPhillips, and Mrs Myrtle Abercrombie on behalf of the local Methodist circuit.
David Scott gave a short history of the parish. The first wedding that took place in the new church in 1890 was between Robert Hassard of Carnick and Sarah Jane Stinson of Crott. Their grandson, David Hassard brought two photographs of the bride and groom and members of both the Hassard and Stinson family joined him on the stage for photographs. There was also a photographic display in the hall.
The 125th Anniversary celebrations continued with a dinner in Killyhevlin hotel on Friday 9th October. Arlene Little baked a second cake, which was cut by Maud Ferguson and Gretta Hassard. After the meal, Lynda Collum presented an excellent PowerPoint slide show detailing parish events from 1890 until the present time. Arlene and Lynda were presented with flowers in appreciation of all their hard work. Gladys Latimer and Pearl Bell recited recitations. David Scott and Clive McKee organised a quiz of which Noreen emerged as a clear winner. The Revd Derek Kerr and the Revd Canon David Skuce made short speeches and the Revd Sampson Ajuka concluded the evening with prayer.
Cutting the cake are Maud Ferguson Arlene Little and Gretta Hassard