Mount Merrion’s new hall speaks of ‘new life’ for the community
Late in November around 100 parishioners, community representatives, contractors and funders gathered for the official reopening of Mount Merrion Parish Church Hall.
One visitor said that the new extension spoke of ‘new life’ and it is the prayer of the congregation that the hall will be used by the community and church to bring hope and new life to the Cregagh Estate.
The event marked the culmination of 18 weeks of building work and a longer period of fundraising, but the end result was definitely worth the wait. The hall now has a more welcoming and open feel, an accessible toilet and heating.
Speakers on the evening included Ken Gibson from the International Fund for Ireland, Olga Gallagher from the Rural Development Council, Roy Totton from the Church of Ireland Priorities Fund and Bishop Harold Miller.
Bishop’s Curate, Revd Adrian Green, said that, “as a church we feel very blessed by what has been achieved in such a relatively short period of time”. As a way of passing on that blessing the church has twinned its new accessible toilet with one in Kaouch Village, Cambodia, through a scheme jointly operated by Coord and Tearfund.