Old Kilmore Church will come to life again this Sunday
The old Kilmore Church in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum will resound with worship again this Sunday when Kilmore & Inch parishioners hold their special Father’s Day service there.
About 39 years ago the church, which was built in 1792, was carefully dismantled, stone by stone and reassembled at Cultra. It took its place there alongside a school from Ballycastle, a rectory from Duneane, Co Antrim and a row of houses from Sandy Row, Belfast.
‘After 184 years a church moves on’ was the headline in the local press on 6 May 1976. Accompanying the story a was a photo (below) of Bishop George Quin with the parishioners, wardens and rector, Revd H G B Forde, gathered at the gates for the act of de–consecration.
After the building of the current church in 1870 which was erected to cope with a growing congregation, the church was used as a school and parochial hall. Rather than let it fall beyond repair, when the museum approached with the plan to preserve and re–locate the building, all parties, including the RCB, eventually agreed.
The rescued church is regarded as an excellent example of Georgian architecture and great care was taken to restore it as closely as possible to its original state.
Worshippers on Sunday will picnic together and (strictly by ticket) be able to enjoy the Folk Museum for the entire day. We wish them a great day out!
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