Diocesan News30 Oct 14

Heritage Lottery Fund Awards £8,100 To The Friends Of St Columb’s Cathedral To Mark First World War Centenary

The Friends of St. Columb’s Cathedral, Derry announced they had received an award of £8,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a project to mark the centenary of the beginning of the War entitled, ‘Remembering Derry’s role in the First World War’. Awarded through HLF’s First World War: then and now programme, the project has put together a programme of activities to explore and share the City’s contribution to the War.

One of the main strands of the project, a major exhibition in the Chapter House, opens on 6 November. The fascinating exhibition consists of illustrated display panels, historical photographs and artefacts covering diverse topics such as the naval arms race, U–boat campaign, departure of the Cheshires from Ebrington, war in the air, Gallipoli, impacts on local industry and stories of local families.

There will also be a commemorative booklet available free of charge to accompany the exhibition.

Items of First World War interest in the main body of the Cathedral will be highlighted including the10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Kings Colour and other Great War Standards. Records which commemorate the 49,000 Irishmen who were killed in the war will be on display and available for consultation.

Running alongside the exhibition will be a series of events organised by the Dean throughout November to include readings and storytelling, lectures, poetry and a musical evening with the Hamilton Flute Band.

The Dean of Derry, the Very Revd Dr. William Morton welcoming the award of the grant said;”‘I wish to put on record my deepest gratitude to the Heritage Lottery Fund without whose generous funding this exhibition would simply not have happened.

“I greatly appreciate the huge amount of knowledge and expertise which will be needed to produce this extensive exhibition and series of events on the First World War. Events to commemorate the outbreak of the war have been taking place the length and breadth of the UK and it is extremely fitting that St Columb’s Cathedral undertakes this timely project. The Cathedral is the oldest building in a city from which many young men signed up for service and tragically paid the supreme sacrifice. St. Columb’s also continues to serve as the repository of many regimental flags which represent the faithful loyalty and service of all, who, through many generations, fought, and died, for the establishment of freedom, justice and peace.

“Part of the appeal of this wonderful exhibition is that, in a compact and succinct way, the sheer, gigantic loss of life, together with details of the combatants in The Great War, is conveyed, while, at the same time, there is distinct focus on the local scene, and on how those who died are remembered.

“Most grateful thanks are expressed to Mr Ian Bartlett from whose vision the exhibition emerged; to Mr Richard Doherty for the benefit of his fathomless knowledge as a military historian and author of distinction; and also to Mr Tim Webster for his unparalleled talents as artist and illustrator of the exhibition.

“I thoroughly commend this exhibition as a most informative and enlightening experience which will undoubtedly deepen understanding, not only of the nature of The Great War, but also of the sacrifice of all those who died, which can never be re–paid.”

Full details of all the events in St.Columb’s Cathedral are available on the website http://www.stcolumbscathedral.org/  or from the Cathedral on 028 71267313.

Paul Mullan, Head of HLF NI, added his support “We were delighted to support this absorbing project based as St Columb’s Cathedral. The building has had a pivotal role to play through the history of the city and this project will help it highlight its strong connection to the First War World.

“Across the UK HLF has funded groups to uncover and record their unknown First World War stories. These projects are helping all of us to explore and share complex history which broaden and deepen our collective understanding of the First World War period. Groups are now bringing their findings together on the newly created First World War hub on the Historypin website. We would encourage people to use and add to this exciting resource.”