This year May Street Presbyterian Church celebrates its 175th anniversary and will mark the occasion this Sunday 17 October with a special Civic Service at 3pm. This Civic Service, which is to be conducted by May Street minister Rev Keith Drury, will feature special music and a newly composed digital presentation foreshadowing the work of the 'Lightwell'.
The 'Lightwell' is an ambitious series of events run by May Street to mark this special anniversary year and cater for its parish of 9 to 5 city workers. The programme began with a series of Thursday lunches on 16 September and has continued with events for special interest groups held at a variety of times during the working week. These have been aimed at different sections of the business community including office workers, retail staff and finance personnel.
Among the programmes being developed are a 'Stop Smoking Clinic' in association with the Ulster Cancer Foundation and a support group for people experiencing marriage problems and going through separation and divorce.
The programme is being led by Keith Drury, who was installed as May Street's minister in November 2003 and also appointed as the Presbyterian Church's first Director of Mission in Belfast city centre.
"It's early days for this new style of ministry in Belfast and much of the first months have been taken up in planning, building on the original vision and developing links with other ministries already working in the city centre.
"It's strange working in a parish that disappears at five and reappears the next day but I hope we can begin to develop a therapeutic ministry where people can bring their problems to a safe place, talk them through without in any way being judged, and ultimately find a resolution."
May Street Presbyterian Church first opened for worship on 18 October 1829. The first minister was Rev. Henry Cooke, a minister of outstanding significance with Irish Presbyterianism. He was the second Moderator of the General Assembly in 1841 and his contribution to life in Ireland is marked by the statue representing him dressed in clerical and academic costume, which was erected by public subscription in College Square East. Over the years May Street has had a total of 11 ministers. During the 1950s and 1960s the church underwent two major schemes of renovation of the entire church buildings costing £50,000. Today May Street has a congregation of 98 families and largely ministers to commuters working in the city.
Issued by Sarah Harding, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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