Diocesan News
Connor Cathedral Chapter Completes Anniversary Walk For School
Rain did not deter the hardy Chapter of St Saviour, Connor, as nine men and a dog stepped out to walk from Belfast Cathedral to Lisburn Cathedral on June 6.
The Chapter members were marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Chapter of St Saviour in Lisburn Cathedral.
They were also raising funds to help Connor Diocese build a new school in the town of Mongo in Connor’s link diocese of Yei in southern Sudan.
Canons Ernest Harris, Percy Walker, William Bell and Dean John Bond walk along Stranmillis Embankment in Belfast en route to Lisburn Cathedral
The Dean of Connor, the Very Rev John Bond, was joined on the 12 and a half mile walk by the Archdeacon of Connor, the Ven Dr Stephen McBride, vicar of Antrim; the Archdeacon of Dalriada, the Ven Stephen Forde, rector of Larne; Canon Stuart Lloyd, rector of St Patrick’s, Ballymena; Canon Percy Walker, rector of St Mary’s with Holy Redeemer, Belfast; Canon George Irwin, rector of Ballymacash; Canon William Bell rector of Eglantine; Canon George Graham, rector of Dunluce; Canon Earnest Harris, rector of Ballinderry; and Canon Sam Wright, rector of Lisburn Cathedral (who joined the walk part way through).
They left St Anne’s Cathedral at 1pm and followed the Lagan towpath from the Waterfront to Lisburn, finishing at the Cathedral of Christ Church, Lisburn. The first clergy reached the end at 4.30pm while the last group arrived in Lisburn shortly after 6pm.
The walk presented a challenge to Dean Bond’s six-year-old Bassett hound, Ben. “Ben had been a little lame last week and I wondered about him participating at all,” said the Dean. “The last two miles were hard on him but he made it.”
Dean John Bond and his dog Ben; Canon William Bell; Canon Percy Walker and Canon Ernest Harris relax at Lisburn Cathedral after their sponsored walk
Dean Bond thanked his fellow members of the Chapter for their efforts. Sponsorship money is being counted.
“It was very worthwhile and while we may not have been totally favoured by the elements the liquid sunshine was just a slight inconvenience compared with where this money is going to benefit the young people in the school in Mongo,” said Dean Bond.
“The weather helped us get things in perspective. Compared with our brothers and sisters in that part of the world we are all millionaires.”
Continuing the Chapter’s 400th anniversary celebrations, a service of Holy Communion will be held in Lisburn Cathedral on Tuesday June 9 when the preacher will be the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, Bishop of Connor, and this will be followed by a Chapter Dinner in Malone Golf Club.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the Chapter on its successful 400th anniversary walk can contact Dean Bond on 028 25861215 or email [email protected] .
For further information please contact:
Connor Diocesan Communications Officer
Contact Details
Karen Bushby
028 4066 0798
07766103880
[email protected]