Diocesan News17 Nov 08

40th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving at St John's Parish Church, Lurgan

A service of celebration to mark the 40th Anniversary of St John's Parish Church in Lurgan on Sunday 16th November. The Rt Revd Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Dromore led the service of thanksgiving in a packed church, formerly John Street School, before becoming Sloan Street Mission Hall and then a daughter church of Shankill Parish.

During a campaign of visitation in the autumn of 1967 it was revealed that St John's would soon be able to operate as a separate Parish in Lurgan and arrangements were made to put this in place. The Parish of St. John the Evangelist was constituted on the 1st March 1968. Special events were held to celebrate 100 years of the building and these included a service of thanksgiving held on 22nd May 1988, a tree planted by the Mothers Union and a booklet celebrating 100 years of the building compiled by the late Leonard McCreanor.

A service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Parish was held on 14th March 1993 and again Parishioners were given the opportunity to donate various items which were dedicated by the Rt. Revd Dr. Gordon McMullan, Bishop of Down and Dromore at the time and preacher at the service.

Speaking at the thanksgiving service, Bishop Harold said he was delighted to be part of the celebrations and that he wished God's continued blessings on the parish, its rector the Revd John White, parishioners and all who partake of the ministry of the church through its various organisations.