Diocese of Down & Dromore

Willowfield parish in East Belfast has indeed much to celebrate. It's a double celebration because not only has it just opened a brand new Community Centre, but the parish has also moved back into their 135 year old Victorian church following two years of major renovations.

The new community facility, called The Micah Centre, was officially opened by the TV and Radio personality Roy Walker. Roy, who hosted the popular TV programme Catchphrase, and currently Mr Carpark Catchphrase on the Radio 1 Chris Moyles' show, grew up in East Belfast. Built on a former church car park (great connection with Roy there!) the facility has been funded by a wide range of groups including government agencies, local businesses and with grants from charities, including the Church of Ireland Priorities Fund.

During the opening week Willowfield Parish Community Association, which runs the community centre, offered lots of programmes and activities geared towards all sections of the local community. WPCA was started 5 years ago and since then has been running various projects supporting people living in the surrounding area, which is still one of the most deprived parts of Belfast.

Next door, Willowfield Church, on the junction of the Woodstock and My Lady's Road, has undergone major refurbishment and re-ordering over the past couple of years. While the work was ongoing the Sunday services were held in the neighbouring church halls. The church building was badly in need of repair, with wet and dry rot found in both roof and floor timbers. Significant structural repairs were also necessary.

The transformed church building has now been totally refurbished, with new furniture and décor, and the renovations have been done in such a way that people will be able to see and hear everything that's going on. The projected costs escalated from £400,000 to over £1 million, but had the work not been done the roof of the church would possibly have collapsed within 10 years!

At the opening of the Micah Centre two peace doves, as a symbol of peace and hope for East Belfast, were released by two of the children involved in the WPCA kids' activities. The children represented both traditions within the community. The Lord Mayor was also a special guest at the centre opening, together with visitors from our link diocese of Albany. Three representatives from the Belfast Regeneration Office, which was a major funder of the project and instrumental in initiating the funding, were also present at the celebrations.

The Bishop of Down & Dromore was the preacher at the special opening service and Pastor David Parker, from the Desert Vineyard Church in California, was the guest speaker at other special services and events in the period following the opening.