Killinchy Parish Church wins major Church Tourism award
Killinchy Parish Church has won a major award at The National Churches Awards. The rural County Down church won the Church Tourism award at a prestigious ceremony held on Tuesday October 22, in the ancient Chapter House of Lincoln Cathedral.
The awards were co-presented by the new Dean of Lincoln, Very Revd Dr Simon Jones, and Canon Ann Easter, former Chaplain to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Around 200 churches were nominated this year from across the UK, from which a judging panel selected the 55 finalists and 15 winners across five categories, with several awards reserved for churches in the four home nations.
The Church Tourism award looks at how churches, chapels and meeting houses provide a wonderful welcome to visitors and share their building with others.
In giving the award to Killinchy Parish Church at the ceremony, Canon Ann Easter told the audience: “The church dates from the Celtic period, with the first written record dated 1306. They love sharing over 1500 years of stories! The judges loved the tourism outreach and that they see themselves as part of the wider tourism ecosystem. They are open every day, have a 360-degree tour and have doubled their visitor numbers. The judges feel they have come a long way in a short space of time. They liked that they want to learn more and are looking forward to seeing what’s next.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Rev Dr Stanley Gamble of Killinchy Parish Church said: “We are absolutely thrilled and delighted to receive this award. It is an affirmation of all that we have achieved in building the Livingston Centre at Killinchy Parish Church. We are grateful to the National Church Trust for their support and encouragement. This means so much to our church and local community. Hopefully it will encourage other churches to do likewise.”
Also honoured in Northern Ireland were Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane who picked up the Church Conservations Award and Belfast Redeemer Central secured the Community Volunteer Award.
There were six further finalists from Northern Ireland including St Mark's Dundela which was also nominated in the Church Tourism section.
Nina McNeary, Support Officer in Northern Ireland for the National Churches Trust, said: "Without the commitment of dedicated volunteers, our church heritage would not be maintained, shared, or accessible. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to each and every entrant for their unwavering dedication and love in helping maintain our church heritage."
Back in August churches were invited to nominate their buildings for achievements in conservation, tourism and volunteer work. Nominations were welcomed from churches, chapels and meeting houses across the UK, which are currently open for worship, with all denominations invited to take part. Two new award categories were introduced this year: the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Lord Cormack Award for Public Service.
Host Very Revd Dr Simon Jones added: “There’s something about these buildings that makes me want to go inside and explore what’s going on – whether it’s a community café, an art exhibition, pilgrim spaces for reflection, growing veg in the churchyard or something to engage children. Churches seem to offer it all (although I might be biased!).”
During the ceremony, the people who care for the winning churches came forward to pick up their awards, representing buildings of all sizes and ages, with locations that included rural villages, national parks, towns and cities. Winning churches took home a range of rewards and mementoes including prize money of £500, £750 and £10,000 (for the Friends award), a display plaque and, for group winners, the award itself, hand-crafted by Craig Mace, one of the cathedral architects, in Lincoln Red stone.
Pictured above: Canon Ann Easter, Revd Dr Stanley Gamble, Mrs Helen Carinduff, Mrs Irene McIlveen, Mrs Clare Wilson, Very Revd Dr Simon Jones. Photo credit: Push Creativity & National Churches Trust