News

Revd Andrew Quill Instituted to Holy Trinity Dromore

 


Pictured left to right: Revd John McClenaghan, rector of Aghalurcher Group; Ven. Helene T-Steed, Archdeacon of Clogher; Rt Revd Kenneth Clarke, Director of SAMS UK & Ireland; Revd Andrew Quill, rector-elect; Rt Revd John McDowell, Bishop of Clogher; Revd Canon Mark Watson, Rural Dean; Mr Robert Thompson, People's Churchwarden; Mr Jonathan Keys, Rector's Churchwarden

Holy Trinity Parish Church in Dromore, County Tyrone, had a large audience for the institution of the Revd Andrew Quill as incumbent on the evening of Friday 9th September 2016. Revd Quill was instituted by the Bishop of Clogher, the Rt. Revd John McDowell.


Revd Andrew Quill with his wife Joanne and family

The singing was led by the church choir, the organist was Mrs Beatrice Keys and the pianist was Mrs Lorna Thompson. The service commenced with the processional hymn 'Praise to the Lord, the Almighty'. The first reading was read by Mrs Frances Smyth, MU Enrolling Member; Psalm 84 was led by The Revd Canon Mark Watson, Rural Dean; the second reading was read by Mr Jonathan Keys, Rector's Churchwarden and the gospel reading was read by The Revd Canon Eric McGirr. The hymn 'All I once held dear' was sung before the sermon by The Rt Revd Kenneth Clarke, Director of SAMS UK & Ireland. This was followed by the choir singing an Anthem.

The Archdeacon, the Ven. Helene T-Steed, presented The Revd Andrew Quill to the Bishop for Institution and the Revd John McClenaghan, acting for the diocesan registrar read the certificate of nomination. The congregation worshiped with the singing of the hymn 'In Christ Alone'. During the Commission Mr Robert Thompson, People's Churchwarden read from Psalm 122:1 at the Door; at the Font Miss Valerie Jackson, Sunday School Co-ordinator read from Matthew 28:19; at the Prayer Desk Mr Gordon Deazley, Fields of Life Team Leader read from Philippians 4:6; at the pulpit Mr David Graham, Trainee Evangelist read from 2 Timothy 3:16-17; and at the Lord's Table Mr Arnold Jackson, Honorary Treasurer read from 1 Corinthians 11:26. The hymns 'Before the throne of God above', 'And can it be that I should gain' and the closing processional hymn 'The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want' were sung with the offering going towards the Ministry Fund.

Everyone was invited for refreshments in the Parish Hall after the service, during which a number of speeches were made under the chairmanship of the Rural Dean, the Revd Canon Mark Watson.



A Brief History
The ancient Parish Church is said to have been entirely destroyed in the 1641 wars, and a new Church was built in 1694. The present Parish Church was built in 1957, after one of the walls of the old Church collapsed in 1954, when the damage was so great that it was decided to erect a new building. The Church was consecrated by The Most Revd J.A.F. Gregg, Archbishop of Armagh, in 1958, and the stone used in the bell tower was brought from the recently demolished Aughentaine Castle, Fivemiletown.

Today Holy Trinity Church Dromore is a progressive Church, which seeks to offer a balance of both traditional and modern worship in order to meet the needs of the all-age congregation.

The 50th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the current Church was celebrated in June 2007 and the 50th anniversary of the official opening in 2008. The Church and integrated suite of buildings include a Hall, Conference Room, Coffee Bar/Kitchen, a well-equipped crèche and a very spacious modern fitted kitchen, all of which are in excellent condition and in recent months the Conference Room, Coffee Bar, Vestry and Parish Hall have been refurbished.

The Parish is renowned for working together as an effective team and current organisations include Sunday School, Tots' PowerHouse (Crèche), The Ark for pre-school children and parents, CLB, GFS, Ignite Youth Group, Bible Study, Mothers' Union and Bowling Club.

Regular fund-raising events include an annual Guest Tea on Shrove Tuesday and an annual Parish BBQ in June. Various other fund-raising events are organised on an occasional basis such as parish auctions, vintage rallies, flower-arranging presentations and musical evenings.

The organist and pianist lead the worship each Sunday using the two-manual Copeman Hart electronic organ (purpose-built in 1997) and a Yamaha Clavinova electronic piano. The Senior Choir consists of a team of committed, enthusiastic singers encompassing a wide range of voices and the Junior Choir/Sunday School children ranging from 4-11 years old take part in main festival services. The congregation actively participate in worship using the Church Hymnal and Celebrate' Worship Book in addition to other modern worship songs including many from the new Thanks & Praise supplement. An Order of Service sheet incorporating the weekly announcements, diary dates and activities for the children is available each Sunday for all members of the congregation including enlarged copies available for the visually impaired. Power point presentations are used at all services and copies of services are also available on CD for elderly, housebound parishioners and others who wish to avail of them.

One of our parishioners is currently undertaking a training course in Evangelism accredited by St John's College Nottingham.

In the summer of 2010 a team of 8 travelled from the Parish to Uganda to help build Burunga Hope Life Primary School, supply school resources and dig a bore-well. Over £48,000 was raised in an eight-month period, supplemented by very generous donations from the local community. A second team from the Parish travelled again to Hope Life School in July 2016 to construct a teachers accommodation block and kitchen facilities. Bible-based teaching, hygiene programmes were delivered, in addition to games and craft activities. Over £50,000 was raised for the project, which runs in partnership with the Fields of Life Organisation.