What's been happening | The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

What’s been happening

There is always plenty going on for young people across the Diocese of Connor, both at parish and diocesan level. This is a snapshot of what at young people have been up to!

Connor Takes the Castle 2024

Action from the sports arena at Castlewellan Castle during the Satruday afternoon Connor Takes the Castle activities.

One hundred and thirty young people from across the diocese headed to Castlewellan at the weekend for an action-packed Connor Takes the Castle.

Of these, 90 young people were there for the full residential from Friday October 4 until Sunday October 6, while around 40 joined the fun for the day on Saturday.

This annual event is for young people aged 11-18 and their leaders and involves teaching, worship and lots of activities together.

This year, sessions were led by Simon Henry, National Youth Officer with the Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD).

Despite the forecast, the weather was kind, although those who got a little soggy during the late night walk around Castlewellan Lake on Friday may disagree!

Saturday afternoon’s activities in the castle grounds were run by Laser Tag and Salt Factory Sports and lots of energy was expended on all the challenges by both young people and their leaders.

In addition to the Laser Tag, the young people were set the challenge of (safely) lighting a fire without matches or a lighter, and there were a variety of sports including volleyball, dodgeball and football.

There were talks, worship, a visit to the Peace Maze in Castlewellan Forest Park, karaoke and games on the Saturday evening and of course, hot dogs and more.

We caught up with the young people during Saturday afternoon’s outdoor action…

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Streetreach 2024

Streetreach 2024 took the north coast by storm, with the young Connor team stepping out in mission in the local area. For a second consecutive year, Streetreach partnered with the Grouped Parishes of Ballyrashane & Killdollagh, the Grouped Parishes of Ballintoy & Dunseverick with Rathlin Island and St Patrick’s, Coleraine, & St Andrew’s, Ballysally, for the four-day programme which got underway on Tuesday July 3.

The team was based at the White Park Bay Youth Hostel, arriving on Tuesday afternoon, with dinner, devotions and some down time that evening.

Over the next three days the young people from parishes across Connor Diocese took part in morning devotions, worship, team discussion, and practical activities including running a kid’s club and outreach work in the area.

Evening activities include outreach in Ballybogey and Ballysally, and each day finished with a debrief held in a different participating church. The young people will headed home last Friday night after a very busy two weeks – some came to Streetreach after participating in the four-day Summer Madness festival in Portglenone.

We caught up with the Streetreach team on Wednesday afternoon, July 4. The outreach team was busy preparing flyers and chocolate to give out to people they met. They were visiting homes of families connected to the parishes through baptism or marriage, and also sharing prayers on the streets of Ballysally.

The Wednesday afternoon practical team was in Ballyrashane Glebe Hall, cleaning and setting up for an afternoon tea for elderly folk in the area. Team members were also helping the Rev Amanda Adams get stuck into clearing overgrown vegetation in the graveyard at the lovely Church of St John the Baptist, Ballyrashane.

And in Kilmoyle Primary School, the members of the Kid’s Club were running an afternoon of energetic activities for younger members of the churches hosting Streetreach, with games in the gym, arts and crafts in a classroom, and storytime led by Connor Children’s Ministry Development Officer Victoria Jackson in another classroom.

Although the weather proved mixed, there was lots of sunshine on the north coast for this year’s Streetreach. Well done to all the young people and their leaders for a fantastic few days.

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Summer Madness – Bishop’s BBQ

The Connor Summer Madness Bishop’s Barbecue took place on Sunday June 30, with the sun putting in a welcome appearance for the evening.

The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev George Davison, proved a dab hand at the task of sausage sizzling, assisted by sou chefs Archdeacon Paul Dundas, the Rt Rev Darren McCartney, the Rev Brian Harper, the Rev Derek Harrington and the Rev Dr Andrew Campbell.

An army of volunteers was inside the Connor Youth marquee, serving salads and drinks, and the smells wafting from the barbecue were mouth-watering.

Around 120 young campers and guests were served at the barbecue, which has become a popular fixture in the Connor Summer Madness Sub-Camp programme.