Feelings follow footsteps as Enniskillen churches unite to honour Queen’s legacy
LAST Sunday evening saw peace-making in action in Enniskillen as a congregation gathered in St. Macartin’s Cathedral and crossed the road to St. Michael’s Church as part of a Service of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the life of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
The interdenominational crossing was also a living testament to the late monarch’s history-making and peace-supporting crossing during her last visit to the town, in 2012, marking her first visit to a Roman Catholic church in the island of Ireland.
Representatives from the main churches in the busy market town were accordingly present and took part at Sunday’s service.
The Church of Ireland was represented by Right Rev. Dr. Ian Ellis, Bishop of Clogher; The Very Rev. Canon Kenneth Hall, Dean of St. Macartin’s Cathedral; Rev. Canon Noel Regan, retired precentor of St. Macartin’s; and Rev. Chris West, curate assistant of St. Macartin’s.
The Roman Catholic Church was represented by The Right Rev. Monsignor Peter O’reilly, parish priest of St. Michael’s Church.
The Presbyterian Church was represented by Rev. David Cupples, Enniskillen Presbyterian Church, and the Methodist
Church was represented by Rev. Lorna Dreaning, Enniskillen Methodist Church.
The cathedral was almost at capacity, and many people had to join the service from the balconies overlooking the main church body.
Remembering The Queen in his welcome, Dean Hall said: “For 70 years, through turbulence and change, she sustained the qualities we admire and remained the person we respect.
‘Coronation’
“She promised at her Coronation to devote her life to principle, not power; to law, to justice, to mercy, to faith.”
In his welcome, Dean Hall spoke passionately about The Queen’s desire for reconciliation. He said: “On a personal note, I could say many things about Her Majesty, but I want to focus on her desire for reconciliation that Monsignor Peter O’reilly and I have experienced first-hand.
“When I and Lord Anthony Hamilton here walked with Her Majesty to cross the main street of Enniskillen from St. Macartin’s Church of Ireland Cathedral to St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, it was as more than a pedestrian crossing that street.
“Without a word, Her Majesty made a connection for all to see. Her actions enabled us to feel powerfully that we were one people under God, and one people together – a community of faith.
“Shortly, we will take those few small steps and follow in the actions of Her Majesty [and her 2012 visit], and with prayerful thoughts in our hearts and our minds, we can move this town and this country major strides ahead.”
In his address, Bishop Ellis focused on The Queen’s spiritual qualities and her eternal qualities.
‘An example’
Referencing the walk recreated at the service, he said: “Queen Elizabeth has left us not just with photos of that day, but she has left us an example of how to live well with our neighbours, because we might ask ourselves tonight, as we complete this remembrance and this walk, are we truly following the command to ‘love our neighbour as ourselves’?
“Are we inspired by her example? Are we walking a life of reconciliation, and taking every opportunity to build new relationships with the ‘other’ community?”
The congregation subsequently departed the cathedral to cross to the church, crossing as one body from one centre of faith to another, in a living, shared tribute to Her Majesty’s crossing in 2012.
As intended, the singing of the hymn ‘Lead me Lord’ whilst crossing the street did not have any division or falter, and was very moving for many of those involved, with one participant noting she had tears in her eyes.
The singing only grew louder as the congregation gathered in St. Michael’s to complete the interdenominational service.
Speaking during his address
in the church, Monsignor O’reilly spoke about The Queen and her now famous act of peace-building.
‘Imitate’
He said: “The best tribute we can pay to anyone is to imitate. We have crossed the street in body, just as she did. Now there remains with us to continue the direction of travel, not only in body but in heart, in mind, in soul and in will.
“Feelings follow footsteps, as Dean Hall and I often say, so by walking the walk and talking the talk, we will be smoothing the path and signposting the future.”
Calling on the congregation to ‘do the good thing’, Monsignor O’reilly said: “May God strengthen the will within us to build a better future, to hold the tension, to fuel the ideas, to do the good thing.
“May God strengthen us to do the good thing not to cultivate the goodness of our own souls – which is important, and our own responsibility – but also to cultivate the good of our community; our wonderful and beautiful place that we call home.”