Church to reorganise cityside parishes: Proof that Protestants still leaving west bank says Mayor
MAYOR Drew Thompson says a radical new restructuring of Church of Ireland parishes on Derry's cityside is further proof that Protestant numbers are still decreasing on the west bank of the Foyle.
The reorganisation, revealed this week, leaves just three Church of Ireland parishes on the west bank with Church leaders acknowledging that the move is down to falling congregation numbers.
The move comes hard on the heels of a decision by the Catholic Church in Derry to amalgamate a number of local parishes due to falling numbers and a decline in vocations to the priesthood.
Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe,Rt. Rev Ken Good announced this week that the existing grouped parished of Culmore, Muff and St Peter's are to amalgamate with the parish of Christ Church into a new parochial group.
It's believed that, while congregations were falling in the amalgamated group of parishes, attendances at St. Columb's Cathedral had increased.
Bishop Good explained that the move follows the retirement of Canon Matt Moore - former rector of Culmore, Muff and St. Peter's - and the return to her native Nova Scotia of Rev. Gloria Lee.
Canon Bill McNee, who has been Rector of Christ Church since 2004, will take on pastoral responsibility for the new group and he will be assisted by Rev. Katie McAteer, who has been serving as a deacon in Letterkenny.
Bishop Good added: "The formation of this new parish group is a very constructive development. Great credit is due to Canon Bill McNee, to Rev Gloria Lee, and to the representatives of each of the parishes involved in the recent discussions.
"They have all demonstrated a desire to structure these parishes for effective ministry and future development, while taking into account the significant movement of large numbers of Church of Ireland families from the city side in recent decades."
Mayor Thompson, however, says the news merely confirm what his party, the DUP, has been saying for some time - that Protestants remain unwilling to return to the cityside to live.
"They may go over to shop but the majority of people are not going back even to worship now," he said. "With the amalgamation of these parishes, it indicates the numbers are still dwindling."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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