For many years I have had an interest in the work of the Belfast City Mission, largely as a result of my friendship with the late David Hamilton, a Kells man, who was for a number of years the full-time Secretary (or leader) of the Belfast City Mission. David was a great encourager, whose wise counsel was appreciated by so many young men in the ministry of the church as well as in the City Mission.
The work of the Belfast City Mission dates from 1827. Today the Mission continues its work in a number of neighbourhoods across Belfast, and is seeking to minister in the changing urban context of post-conflict Belfast. Bobi Brown, the current Secretary and leader of the BCM, took me to see some of the current work undertaken by the Mission. Read more…
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One of the purposes of this blog is, as the actual word “blog” indicates, to be a web-based log of my travels and activities during this year. The Presbyterian Mutual Society saga is well-documented elsewhere, not least in the local press here in Northern Ireland, and I don’t need to add to all that has been written already. But I think it’s important to record my visit to Her Majesty’s Treasury this week as part of the continued effort to see the PMS crisis resolved.
I was aware that I was entering a very different world to the one I normally inhabit. As we were escorted along the corridor to the office of Dr Ian Pearson, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, one of my colleagues whispered loudly, “the corridor of power”. Apart from 10 Downing Street, we were in probably one of the most powerful locations in the UK where key decisions are made that affect the lives of so many people, in the UK and farther afield.
The Treasury website describes significant ways in which it has acted to help financial institutions like Northern Rock, as well as its work in addressing the global problem of debt relief. And it is the same Treasury which is reported to have allowed massive bonuses to be paid to executives in RBS, the bank that failed and that needed vast amounts of money from the Treasury to survive.
Our mission to the Treasury was to seek support for the PMS. In view of the bail-outs of other financial institutions, and the permission to pay such huge bonuses to the executives of a failed bank, one might have expected that the PMS case be given favourable consideration. We presented our case as best we could, but left without having resolved the issues, or having received any firm assurances. As I write, the goal of rescuing the PMS is still not achieved.
Nonetheless, I want to record my visit to the Treasury, but I don’t think it will feature as one of the highlights of this year. The dull and grey picture associated with this post accurately reflects the mood I felt that wet afternoon.
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When I was visiting in the Omagh Presbytery recently, I was impressed by the spiritual vitality, energy and initiative shown by some Christian people in that part of the world. In particular, I was struck by the desire of those who work in the agricultural industry in that area to share their faith in a contemporary and relevant way.
Two County Tyrone brothers, Brian and Lynden Keys, are organising an event called maizengrace at The Ecclesville Equestrian Centre in Fintona from 10-12 June at which Angus Buchan, a South African farmer with a Scottish name, will speak. All the details are on the website.
There’s a lot of careful and prayerful planning going into this event, and the message which Angus will share will be relevant to people from every walk of life, but especially to those from a rural or agricultural background. All the local church leaders and members have been invited to an information evening next Thursday, 18th February, in the Ecclesville Centre in Fintona. If you are a leader in a rural congregation, and especially if you live west of the Bann, you might plan to take a group along to one of these events. It may prove to be an ‘maizen’ time.
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It was a beautiful, bright winter afternoon in Ballinamallard when we visited Mrs Isa Craig just a few days before her 100th birthday. She was born on St Valentine’s Day, 14 February, 1910. This was our 17th visit to a centenarian since June last year, and like many of the other occasions, the conversation was lively and entertaining. Mrs Craig was able to recount her life on Crumlin Road in Belfast during the years of the Second World War as she waited for her sweetheart, Desmond, a Fermanagh man, to return from the war. They didn’t see each other for four years, but were married in Crumlin Road Presbyterian Church on his return. She has been a widow now for 33 years.
She also recalled her father, Jack McGarry, who began his employment in the Belfast shipyard as a 14 year old and retired 59 years later as a 73 year old. He was actively involved as a foreman in the construction of the ill-fated Titanic. He lived to be 103, and it is clear that Mrs Craig has inherited some of the same genes.
Mrs Craig maintains a great interest in the life and work of her local congregation of Irvinestown, and her crochet work continues to win prizes in local craft competitions. A wonderful woman! Read more…
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