Ulster Covenant Exhibition at Killinchy Parish
An exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of the Ulster Covenant opens at Killinchy Parish Hall on Monday 19 November at 7.00 pm and runs until Saturday 24 November.
The exhibition tells the local story of the Ulster Covenant in the Ards area and is part of Ards Borough Council’s official programme of events. The travelling exhibition is currently touring various church halls and venues, allowing people to search for their relatives signatures and relive an important period in Irish history.
At the opening night, Mr. Robert Kirk will give a reading of his prize winning poem ‘Fading Ink’, written to mark the centenary, and Mr John Lawson and the Killinchy School of Traditional Music will introduce the audience to the music of that time. Members of the Killinchy Drama Group will be in period dress and there will be civic and community representatives in attendance.
The Ulster Covenant was part of a response by Irish Unionists to the efforts of successive Westminster governments to settle the running sore of the ‘Irish Question’ by giving Ireland a limited measure of local autonomy known as ‘Home Rule’. The signing of the Covenant was conducted in an atmosphere of near religious fervour, appearing to many like a crusade, with comparisons being drawn between the Ulster Covenant and the Old Testament Covenant of the Israelites. It was signed by over 500 people in the Vestry of Killinchy Parish Church and in the old Rectory.
Religious services to invoke divine aid and to encourage signatures were held throughout in Protestant churches with the favoured hymn being ‘O God, our help in ages past’. The Bishop of Down at that time, Charles Frederick D’Arcy, later Archbishop of Armagh, stated the Church of Ireland’s reason for supporting the Covenant: “We hold that no power, not even the British Parliament, has the right to deprive us of our heritage of British citizenship”.
The Church of Ireland centrally has set up a working group to mark the various centenaries that are coming up. They have encouraged parishes to run events which “enhance our understanding of Church of Ireland attitudes at the time” and “to use such lessons to help build a shared future.” It is hoped that Covenant exhibition will help us to do this as we rediscover the past and understand why so many of our forbearers signed the solemn oath.
The Rector, Revd. Stanley Gamble said, “I have been really surprised by the level of interest in the Ulster Covenant in this it’s centenary year. I think what makes people so interested in it is the personal connection they feel when they discover their grandfather or grandmother’s signature on it. I know I was taken a back when I saw my great–grandfather Samuel Gamble’s signature on the Covenant. I commend Mark Thompson and Ards Borough Council for this fascinating exhibition and encourage everyone to make use of it.”
Opening times
Monday 19: 7.00pm–9.00pm (Launch night)
Tuesday 20: 10.00am–4.00pm
Wednesday 21: 10.00am –4.00pm
Thursday 22: 1.00pm–4.00pm, 7.00pm–9.00pm
Friday 23: – 2.00pm–5.00pm, 7.00pm–9.00pm
Saturday 24: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Further details are available from the Parish Convenor of the exhibition, Mr Tom Matchett on 07764616778 or at thomas.f.matchett@talk21.com