Celebrating 150 Years of St Jude’s
Bishop David has rededicated St Jude’s Church, Belfast, 150 years after its foundation. The occasion was a Sesquicentennial Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication on Saturday evening 20 May. It was attended by parishioners past and present and members of the congregation of Knockbreda Parish.
The evening was happy celebration of past ministry and anticipation of what’s to come. Former rector, Canon Norman Jardine and his wife Heather attended, along with Mrs Marlene Moore who represented her late husband and former rector Revd Billy Moore. Norman and Marlene read the lessons and several generations of parishioners led the prayers.
The church was planted by neighbouring Knockbreda Parish Church who had the vision to build a new church on the Ormeau Road within their growing parish. It was completed in 1873 and was the first Church of Ireland church to be built after disestablishment. Canon Bill Press who is the current rector of Knockbreda, preached on Psalm 100, the Jubilate.
After the service, as people enjoyed looking at the historical exhibition around the church, refreshments were served along with generous slices of the anniversary cake!
On the evening (Saturday 20 May), the parish also premiered a short film, The Life of St Jude’s which you can view below.
