

The Bicentennial Events

The committee was drawn together of volunteers from Select Vestry members. The group were to oversee the gathering of ideas, to select and to plan events from April 2022 to December 2022 involving Kilbroney Parish Church and the community. The committee suggestions were then brought back before the vestry with the intent of wanting to balance all aspects of the church, covered through our community and cultural life.
The first meeting of the bicentennial committee took place on Friday 19th March 2021. The team consisted of +Darren McCartney, Alanah Donaldson, Liz Farnan, Susan Farrell, Billy Graham, Elizabeth Hanna and Shelagh Roberts.
The first task was to design a ‘Celebrating 200 years’ logo part of which was to become the new Kilbroney Parish Church logo. This was undertaken by Shelagh Roberts and her niece Lilly Toase.




Planning events and ideas were suggested and formed. A programme began to develop with a rough outline of a potential programme of monthly events.

Various ‘Celebrating 200 years’ promotional items were produced. This included a pictorial 12 month calendar for 2022, tote bags, badges and umbrellas.

Book
On Saturday 26th February 2022, the book launch of ‘Celebrating 200 years of Saint Bronach’s Kilbroney Parish Church’ written by Shelagh Roberts and Pauline Coffey took place in the Church. This was the first event held within the church since the easing of covid restrictions. It was also a ‘warming up’ for the celebration 200 events to follow in April.
A large wooden frame was erected in the Kilbroney Church grounds (by the bell ringers) and they attached a celebration 200 display board with a notification section for future events.

The first official event was Saint Bronach’s Camino, which took place on Saint Bronach’s day, Saturday 2nd April 2022. The pilgrims first met at the Kilbroney Centre to park cars then began their walk down the Fairy Glen and along to the front shore line landing place to the Camino starting point.




+Darren McCartney and Susan Farrell were dressed up in period costume, and armed with information guided the pilgrims on their route. The approximately three hour walk took in The Crag Graveyard and Saint Paul’s Church, Saint Mary’s Star of the Sea and Saint Bronach’s Bell, Kilbroney Parish Church and Knotty Ash Cemetery, the old Kilbroney Graveyard, Holy Well of Saint Bronach and lastly up to Holy Cross Abbey.
The Camino was a super start to the programme with 76 pilgrims and the two guides completing the route. They all received a specially designed certificate of completion.


Radio


Sunday 3rd April 2022
BBC Radio Ulster Morning Service was broadcast live at 11.30 am. The united congregations of Clonallon and Warrenpoint joined with Kilbroney to worship and celebrate with a service of Morning Prayer. The Bishop of Down & Dromore, the Right Rev David McClay preached the sermon and The Kilbroney Handbellers played Saint Patrick’s Breastplate on their handbells.
Following this very special service, everyone enjoyed fresh coffee and a slice of the enormous and delicious ‘Celebration 200’ cake baked by KPC’s professional baker, David Torney.

Palm Sunday 10th April.





The Most Rev John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland was invited. He was delighted to participate and to preach at the service of Morning Prayer.

A Church Barbecue for all parishioners was held on May at the Kilbroney Centre, with an Open Air Service and a picnic to follow on the Sunday. Two days of glorious weather made the Kilbroney Parish weekend one to remember. After the Open Air service picnics were unpacked and much food was shared … lemon drizzle cake, a Persian dish, Haggis with neeps and tatties and finally, the pièce de resistance. the Platinum Jubilee trifle.

We had ‘Open Church’ on four consecutive June Saturdays and Sundays for locals and visitors to peruse and enjoy. Laminated sheets were produced which outline the history of plaques artefacts and windows and gifts, so anyone can be confident in showing visitors around.



The Bishop’s Bush Craft event was held on the 1st —2nd July. The overarching aim of this event was to have fun, relax and learn a few skills. Bushcraft is the use and practice of skills associated with being in woodland, wilderness or bush. Instruction was given in fire lighting skills, sharp tool use, natural cordage, shelter building making bread and cooking over a flame. Time was also given to exploration, play and chatting around the night-time fire. This event went so well that further such events may be planned in the future.

There was a tremendous response to our art exhibition from both artists and from approximately 500 visitors.!!! Over 35 artists interpreted the theme in interesting and thoughtful ways, using a variety of media from traditional oils to collages. The exhibition was officially opened on the evening of the 27th July at 7.30 pm. An extensive catalogue was produced with the artists giving statements for their inspiration on their piece of artwork.
A Continuous reading through the New Testament, also took place during the opening times of the art exhibition. There were many different readers from within the Rostrevor village community.



August



The Musical Marathon which took place on Saturday 20thAugust was certainly a ‘noteworthy’ event in the history of Kilbroney Parish Church … with audience and musicians alike delighted to be involved. The tower bells rang out at 1:50 pm to 2.00 pm letting the village know that the event was beginning!




A wet start to the afternoon hindered the Downshire Brass from playing outdoors and drawing in crowds, but spirits remained undampened inside the church with children dancing in the aisle to the upbeat tunes, and adults wishing they could!! Eibhlis Farrell saved the day by delivering an impromptu solo on violin whilst

waiting for Orly Watson, organist of Dromore Cathedral to arrive. He had a flat tyre!. The string quartet from the Rostrevor light orchestra with Liz on organ performed Corelli’s Pastorale. Orly Watson performed an uplifting organ recital culminating in Widor’s Toccata. Maria Flynn accompanied by Dermot McQuaid on guitar brought a mellow tone to the event with her velvety voice for many easy listening, sing
Christmas performance in seven years, filling their slot with a variety of popular, classical and Irish tunes.





Brona McVittie brought a unique atmospheric ambience to the church acoustics with her folk songs performed on electric harp.


Chairman Michael Savage of NMDDC dropped into this event and met with the parishioners and musicians.


Kerygma Good News Choir and its accompanying musicians brought a fantastic day and evening to an appropriate close flooding the church with songs of praise and worship. Thanks to the Fiddlers Green committee for allowing us to borrow its carved wooden chair, symbolising our community and its musical tradition.



European Heritage Open Day took place on the 10th and 11th September, at 11.00 am - 5.00 pm. The weekend weather wasn’t great but the atmosphere in Kilbroney Church was warm and friendly. Visitors and guides enjoyed many cups of coffee and Joan Toase’s amazing scones. The tours described monuments and the stained glass windows and both Pauline and Shelagh conveyed much interesting information.
September


The Saint Bronach’s Bicentennial tower model was completed just in time for the art exhibition in July by the three senior explorers Henry Coffey, Daragh and Anna Farnan. The tower was celebrated by the Chairman of Newry Mourne Down District Council Mr Michael Savage when he visited the art exhibition in July. He was so impressed with the model, with the work and commitment that he requested they come to the council chamber for a presentation. This took place on the 27th September. Chairman Michael had arranged and presented the senior explorers with an engraved glass bowl along with a delight of refreshments which were served to the explorers and their proud parents, along with Bishop Darren McCartney and Shelagh Roberts.

October
Celebration 200 Harvest Extravaganza and Thanksgiving Service.
The emphasis was on using garden and wild material with very little purchased. Kathryn Stafford from The Posy Barn gave an inspirational workshop. Some of the displays were undertaken by the folk from An Cuan, Kilbroney Integrated Primary School and Saint Mary’s Star of the Sea. So many people were involved

in preparing our church building for the Harvest extravaganza. The decorating was so creative and fun.




This was tremendous success with parishioners and visitors congratulating the church on the beautiful displays and harvest decorations. Kilbroney Integrated primary schools entire school, some 170 individuals visited the displays with many students returning with their parents. It was a brilliant and such a colourful event.
This month’s event was a ticketed Formal Dinner for parishioners and friends of Kilbroney Parish Church. It took place in the Rostrevor Presbyterian Church Hall on the evening of







The hall was transformed into a fine dining experience, with elegant table settings, little indoor fairy lit trees and other ambient lighting. Places were limited with only 65 tickets. Some of the tables names included the Vestry, the Nave and the Belfry.



An absolutely delicious three course meal was served with no hiccups in the kitchen!! And in the background, a talented pianist played live music on the hall piano!

Our final act of the evening entertainment was opera singer Ryan Wallace, who performs under the stage name of ‘Opera Guy’.

It was a fantastic evening and a great success.
Mini Christmas Tree Festival 4th - 11th December
December

The Mens Shed delivered their wooden planks which were set on top of the pews to create a display area along the inside of the interior walls. Over 90 trees were submitted! There were entries from our three local schools, groups and from lots of individuals! Amazing ideas and they were so creative, with every one of them different.
A small team of parishioners ensured that the exhibition could be open for eight consecutive days. After Christmas they continued to be on display until the Epiphany.













A service of Holy Communion at 11.00 pm. As people gathered before the service warm “Preacher’s Punch” was served … of course … non-alcoholic!


The last minutes of the old year were marked with the slow tolling of the tenor bell. (The biggest bell with the deepest note in Saint Bronach’s weighs 590 Kg.) This may be likened to tolling a bell for the dear departed at their passing, then on the stroke of New Year the single tenor is replaced with the joyful ringing of the whole peal … to welcome 2023.

Thank You
As everyone knows, all these occasions and events do not just happen and the small team of parishioners who helped organise teas and coffees, setting out and putting away chairs and equipment, getting donation boxes ready, printing signs, directing traffic and putting out parking cones, keeping musicians, artists, and visitors safe and happy, arranging flowers, cleaning the church before and after each one should be wholeheartedly thanked. This marks the end of our 200 celebrations.