400th anniversary launched at special service in Lisburn Cathedral

Monday January 16th 2023

Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Scott Carson; Bishop George Davison; Dean Sam Wright; and Dean’s Vicar, the Rev Danielle McCullagh, at the 400th anniversary service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn. Photo: Norman Briggs.

A year of celebrations to mark the 400^th anniversary of Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn, is well and truly underway, with a special launch service taking place on Sunday January 15. [See our Photo Album below].

The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev George Davison, and the Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Scott Carson, joined Dean Sam Wright, members of the Cathedral Chapter, former members of the clergy team and the wider Cathedral community for the service.

Afterwards, the Cathedral’s Nimble Fingers group unveiled an incredible 3D knitted model of the Cathedral, graveyard and some of the key historic buildings in Bridge Street, Castle Street and Market Square.

The celebratory year kicked off on January 7 with 400 Minutes of Prayer from 9am until 3.40pm, with both silent and led prayer and prayer stations all around the Cathedral.

In the next few weeks – date to be confirmed – Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council will launch an exhibition in the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum, charting the history of the Cathedral site and how it was integral to the development of Lisburn over the centuries. The event will include a lecture/talk by an expert. Details of this and further anniversary events will follow.

Photos by Norman Briggs