Grant for Christian Heritage in North Down
Christian heritage in North Down has received a huge boost in the form of European money. North Down Borough Council will receive Euro 155,00 for Christian Heritage and Euro 55,000 to conduct a feasibility study into the journeys of Columbanus.
Instrumental in the successful bid has been Alderman Marsden Fitzsimons, a parishioner of Ballyholme parish and councillor since 1993.
"I asked my rector at the time if becoming a councillor was a wise move and he encouraged me to 'Go for it'. We could never have anticipated how well it would work out for the church in Bangor," says Marsden.
The Bangor area is historically rich, featuring in the lives of two famous saints, Columbanus and Comgall. In another boost to Christian heritage, Malachy's Wall at Bangor Abbey dating from 1340, was recently restored and unveiled in a joint project with the Council.