The diocese celebrates St Patrick's Day
After last year’s heavy rain, we were relieved when St Patrick’s Day unfolded as cold but dry for our cross-community diocesan celebrations. The day began with Holy Communion at Saul Church and one of the biggest turnouts for our prayer pilgrimage.
The theme for 2025 was Godly Leadership, so it was fitting that the Revd Canon Maurice Elliott, Director of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, gave the first address of the day.
Speaking on 2 Corinthians 4 and the leadership modelled by the Apostle Paul, Maurice offered three qualities of godly leaders. He said that godly leadership is manifested in those who are willing to proclaim God’s truth; that godly leaders believe in the power of the Gospel to change people’s lives and that godly leaders are willing to corroborate the message of their lips with the evidence of their lives.
“They keep on going by the grace of God, he continued, “and they demonstrate a willingness to pay the price.”
The new Dean of Down, the Very Revd Henry Blair, led the intercessions and the readings were given by two leaders who will be commissioned for the diocese later this month – Tom Procter (Diocesan Reader) and John McGrath (Bible Teacher and Catechist).
After the service, the band of international pilgrims set out from Saul, stopping to pray at several stops on the way to Down Cathedral. The pilgrimage was led by Revd Stu Armstrong, Curate-in-charge of St Saviour’s Craigavon and continuing the focus on our theme we prayed together for godly leadership in different sectors of society.
In keeping with the Celtic flavour of the occasion, pilgrims arriving in the Cathedral Narthex for the Festival Service were greeted with traditional music played by the Maginn Family and Irish dancers from the McCartney School of Dance took part in the service. The Revd John Scott gave the Old Testament reading in both Irish and English.
We were delighted to welcome several local civic leaders to the service including Gavin Robinson MP, Cllr Pete Byrne, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Mr Gawn Rowan Hamilton, His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Down.
Our guest speaker was His Honour David Turner KC, a recently retired Circuit Judge and Reader at All Souls Langham Place in London.
A native of Derry/Londonderry, he is a leader in the field of law and has held several leadership roles at diocesan and central level in the Church of England.
David described Patrick’s ministry as one of history’s greatest examples of transformative leadership and went on to describe four marks of Godly leadership seen in Barnabas in Acts 11:24 and echoed in Patrick’s life.
Barnabas displayed empathy for outsiders. “The Godly leader knows that to lead people you first need to understand them, to love them, to get on their side.”
Barnabas submitted to God’s call through the Church. “There was a need. The church saw he had the gifts. They sent him. He went.”
Barnabas saw the grace of God in an imperfect church. “Godly leaders know the world is broken, that we’re in a spiritual war zone – but they have a joy in Jesus which is deep and immovable. The greatest need for us today is often simply to stay faithful. In small things and in big things.”
Finally, Barnabas was a leader-maker, a talent-spotter, who, instead of manoeuvring for his own reputation and promotion, sought out a more talented associate in Paul.
David concluded: "May we, like Barnabas and Patrick, lead with courage, serve with humility, love with passion, and build for the future. To the glory and praise of the Lord Jesus and the building of His kingdom."
We are grateful to the Principal of Banbridge Academy, Robin McLoughlin, OBE, for leading the prayers of intercession and to Down Cathedral’s choir and organist, Mr Michael McCracken, for leading the worship along with Jude Frame.
Following the service, David Turner laid a wreath on Patrick’s grave and many people stayed on in the cathedral for a complimentary ‘Picnic in the Pews’.
Download David Turner’s sermon in full HERE (PDF).
