Baptismal festival attracts visitors from near and far

Wednesday September 21st 2011

Rose Gault and Paul McKeeman standing beside the restored font.More than 300 visitors, some from as far away as Australia and America, visited Billy Parish Church for its Festival of Baptism.

The festival was held in the church, near Bushmills, on September 10 and 11 as part of European Heritage Open Days

On display were 30 christening gowns and beautiful floral exhibits. An old font, which had been found in the church grounds last year, has been restored and made the centrepiece of the festival.

Along with a travelling font belonging to the parish, currently on display in the Giants Causeway School Museum, there were three fonts in the church over the weekend.

Baptismal font and flowers.Special services were held morning and evening when the congregation reaffirmed their baptismal vows and also recited the old catechism!

The old rectory gardens were also open to visitors and teas were served in the church hall. The rector, the Rev John Anderson, said: “Billy Church is 195–years–old and this festival weekend has given the parishioners some inspiration for how to mark the 200th anniversary in 2015!”  

 

Margaret Kane and Marie Dunbar admiring christening gowns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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