Press Releases
OPEN LETTER TO ORANGE ORDER FROM THE DIOCESE OF ARMAGH REGARDING THE ANNUAL DRUMCREE SERVICE
To: The District Master, Officers and members of the Portadown District of the Orange Order
As the date for the attendance of Portadown Lodges at morning service in Drumcree Parish Church approaches we write to you as clergy with special responsibilities in the Church of Ireland diocese of Armagh. We have shared with our clergy colleagues in ministering to the people of this diocese through many years of turmoil and civil unrest. We are conscious of the conflicting pressures under which people have lived through years of uncertainty and violence in this Province and we recognise the pain and the courage of victims and their families.
We pay a genuine tribute to the responsible leadership and example which have been set by members of the Orange Institution on occasions in the past.
Attendance at a service in which we worship Almighty God is a great privilege. The traditional attendance at Drumcree Church by Portadown Lodges has gone on for many years. It is the practice of the Church of Ireland that attendance at divine worship is open to anyone and we welcome the opportunity afforded by Drumcree Church for members of the Order to worship God.
We are also conscious of the perception of this event in the Province and beyond. Over recent years you are as aware as we are of the controversies which have arisen due to the parade of lodges on their return from divine worship over some routes. We deeply regret the circumstances which have arisen in recent years and the ways in which those circumstances have led to inter-community violence and division. As you are also aware the Archbishop has made strenuous efforts in the past few years to ameliorate this situation through contacts with the Order and others in the local community.
We believe that attendance at a service of the Church of Ireland carries with it privilege and responsibility in equal degrees. While as Churchmen we cannot control events beyond the confines of Church property we are deeply conscious that unrest and disruption on a return from such worship degrade the spiritual and indeed the sacred nature of that worship. In particular it also places immense pressures on the parish of Drumcree its rector and people who faithfully worship in their Church throughout the year.
The Church of Ireland does not wish to be associated with such divisiveness. We appeal to the Portadown Lodges to do all in their power to respect the privilege of worship and by their dignified behaviour both on their way to Drumcree Church and on their return to act peacefully and within the law. In this way such dignified conduct would show the 'more excellent way' of Christian love and forbearance.
We write as clergy who understand the pressures on all sections of this community at this difficult time. the right to parade is established and accepted as indeed is the right to make a public protest - peacefully and within the law - but so also is the sacredness of worship and the well-being of this entire Province and all its people.
Yours in the service of Jesus Christ:
+ Robert Armagh, Archbishop of Armagh
Herbert Cassidy, Dean of Armagh
Raymond Hoey, Archdeacon of Armagh
Colin Moore, Rural Dean of Mullabrack
William Neely, Rural Dean of Tynan
Terence Scott, Rural Dean of Tullyhogue
Derick Swann, Rural Dean of Dungannon
Further information from:
THE CHURCH OF IRELAND PRESS OFFICE
Church of Ireland House
61 - 67 Donegall Street
Belfast BT1 2QH