Protestant church to host Catholic Easter ceremonies

St Maeldoid's Church of Ireland has offered the use of its church building to the congregation from St Mary's Catholic church

The Catholic community in a Co Monaghan town is holding its Easter ceremonies in a Protestant church this weekend.

In a show of goodwill between Catholics and Protestants in Castleblayney, St Maeldoid’s Church of Ireland has offered the use of its church building to the congregation from St Mary’s Catholic church for a year.

As St Mary’s church is undergoing essential renovations, including a new roof, the Easter ceremonies are taking place in the Church of Ireland less than 100 metres away.

Speaking about the gesture, the rector of St Maeldoid’s Church, Rev Neal Phair said: "Fr Pat [McHugh] mentioned to me that he was going to engage in a year-long renovation of St Mary’s. So I said to him that you’ll need somewhere to worship during that time. I told him he would be very welcome to use St Maeldoid’s.

"I have to say that it has worked out really well. There has been a wonderful sense of community and a great sense of unity."

Rev Phair said there has been no resistance to the gesture among his congregation and it "has worked like clockwork. It’s been a lovely atmosphere for everybody and a wonderful experience".

The local Catholic clergy agree that, ever since the local bishops from the two churches approved the temporary move, it has worked seamlessly.

Fr Pat McHugh of St Mary’s said: "It has enhanced well-developed relations between the two congregations.

"In our congregation there is an overwhelming sense of gratitude and appreciation. For the more senior members there is a certain amount of relief and joy that they have lived to see this," said Fr McHugh.

He said that the Church of Ireland gesture has particular poignancy during Holy Week.

"Maybe at other times we are too conscious of what separates us but in these days that tends to disappear. In these days of Holy Week, where better and what better way of witnessing what we all have in common?," said Fr McHugh.

Rev Phair pointed out that there was already good relations between the two communities in Castleblayney and "this has helped to cement that and further the unity that already exists".

The roof has been replaced on the St Mary’s Church building and the remaining renovation works are expected to be completed this summer.

Ahead of the move back to his own church, Fr McHugh predicted church buildings will be shared much more in future.

He said: "I expect that in future generations people will shake their heads in bewilderment as to why did we need, or why do we need so many buildings to do what we are doing."