‘Just devastating’ says Rev Isy Hawthorne-Steele

Monday September 2nd 2024

Archbishop John McDowell outside the fire-damaged Church of the Holy Name, Greenisland, with the Rev Isy Hawthorne-Steele, priest-in-charge, and the Rev Stephen Lowry, a former rector. Photo: Chris Bennett.

The Rev Isy Hawthorne-Steele, priest-in-charge of Greenisland Parish, said the fire that destroyed the parish hall and damaged the church just hours after 70^th anniversary celebrations is ‘just devastating.’

Isy was on the scene soon after the alert was raised. “I was there within minutes, I thought it was just going to be a fire in the bins, then there was a huge noise and it just caught fire so quickly. A gas bottle caused a massive explosion. I was just praying that it didn’t hit the roof of the church, that’s what the fire service were fighting all night. They have done a tremendous job.”

Isy was allowed into the church at 5am on Monday and was able to bring out the lectern Bible and wands. After very little sleep, the early start and a day of media interviews and other meetings, she said she is just exhausted.

“It is a horrible feeling that the hall is totally gone, it is going to be a long process,” she said.

The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev John McDowell, who on Sunday afternoon was preaching at the 70^th anniversary service, returned to Greenisland on Monday afternoon to support Isy and all those in the Church of the Holy Name and the Parish of Greenisland.