13th April, 2025 - Palm Sunday:Procession of Palms
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and in what has become a tradition in St Bride’s the Procession of Palms was once again led by Annie the donkey, symbolic of the colt that Jesus rode into Jerusalem before his crucifixion. Annie has a very quiet temperament and was completely at ease as she was led by her owner Kerry from the Parish Hall up to the church door, heading the procession of the choir and the congregation who were singing the traditional Palm Sunday hymn, All Glory, Laud and Honour. When everyone was inside Annie followed and stood quietly at the choir stalls, entirely unfazed by the attention. She did seem quite interested in the sweets that one little boy was holding as he went up to stroke her but he kept them out of her reach! She left the church for the duration of the Palm Sunday service to graze in the gardens, but returned to lead everyone out at the end.
2nd April, 2025 Antrim Rural Deanery Lenten Service
It was the turn of Kilbride to host the Antrim Rural Deanery Lenten service this evening and it was wonderful to welcome clergy and parishioners from so many different churches across the area for the service of Evening Prayer, led by Rev. John McClure. The church choir as always led the praise and contributed two different pieces during the service, Shalom Chaverim, at the beginning before the processional hymn, and the anthem Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley during the service. Near the end Rev. John McClure described the dreadful fire and smoke damage done to All Saints’ Church in Antrim on Christmas Day and he invited the Venerable Stephen McBride, Vicar of All Saints’, and his wife Heather, up to the front of the church to be presented with a cheque from Kilbride’s Select Vestry treasurer, Lillian Lyttle. The money will be added to the restoration fund set up to repair the church. Stephen thanked the parishioners of Kilbride on behalf of himself and the parishioners of All Saints’ and mentioned that they hope to have all repairs completed within a year.
Immediately following the service everyone made their way down to the Parish Hall to enjoy some light refreshments and fellowship.
Pictured below are James Christie (People’s Church Warden), Iris McCormick (Rector’s Church Warden), Ven. Stephen McBride (Vicar of All Saints’), Rev. Claire Thompson (Curate Assistant in All Saints’) and Rev. John McClure (Rector-in-Charge in Kilbride).
30th March, 2025 - Mothering Sunday
This morning’s service had a ‘mothers’ theme, being Mothering Sunday, recognising the wonderful role they all play in our society and how mothers across the world make so many sacrifices in so many ways in bringing new life into the world and in raising a family. The readers today were two young mothers from the congregation, Sally Webb and Louise Gardiner (pictured together below). As every lady left the church at the end of the service each was presented with an individual flower to take home.
19th March, 2025 - Mid-week Lenten Service
It was a pleasure to welcome Rev. Clyde Irvine to St Bride’s this morning to officiate at the mid-week Lenten communion service. Rev. John McClure was unavailable to officiate at this service but Rev. Irvine was pleased to stand in during his absence. He is very familiar with St Bride’s having been rector from 1968 - 1974, before leaving to take up a full-time teaching post in Ballyclare High School. As he mentioned it had been over 50 years since he last officiated at a communion service in Kilbride.
16th March, 2025 - St Patrick’s Day Lunch
The Ladies’ Group was once again busy ahead of this morning’s service preparing a stew lunch and as soon as the service was over parishioners and friends moved down to the Parish Hall where everyone enjoyed a delicious meal of beef stew, followed by apple tart and ice cream. Today was also a special day for our Rector as he celebrated his birthday and a special cake was baked for the occasion. Parishioner George Rea will celebrate his birthday this coming Tuesday (being born in the same year as Rev. John he is only two days younger!) so it was fitting that he should join in the celebrations. When the meal was over George then joined his brother David to provide some entertainment as they played accordions together. Organist Tim Wilson also played a few Irish songs on the piano to set the atmosphere for a slightly early St Patrick’s Day celebration. People’s Church Warden, James Christie, also assisted by singing a well received solo.
12th March, 2025 - Kilbride Parish Church Ladies’ Group: Talk by Stuart Gibson, Community Policing and Crime Prevention Officer with the PSNI
The Ladies’ Group was pleased to welcome Stuart Gibson this evening to give a talk on personal and home safety and security.
Stuart’s talk covered the ways in which we can deter burglars, e.g. by using security/sensor lights, security cameras, alarms, window locks, door locks and chains and car key security. As many break-ins happen at the rear of houses, unseen by passers-by, it makes sense to make it more difficult for someone to access the back of the property by having side gates that can be locked if possible. He recommended keeping hedges and trees at the front of your house no higher than waist level so that neighbours can see if someone is up to no good!
Stuart finished by talking about cold callers and the best ways to deal with them without opening your door. If you are not sure about someone at your door, ask to see ID, genuine callers will not mind. You can also call 101 and ask for Quick Check, they will check with the company that your caller is genuine.
He left the ladies with a final thought on scammers:
S – seems too good to be true
C – contacted out of the blue
A – asked for personal details
M – money is requested
Stay safe!
9th March, Service of Reflection
During this morning’s service of Morning Prayer there was a reflection on the lives of those people who passed away during the past five years during the COVID-19 pandemic. They may have been a parishioner or a close family member of a parishioner or a dear friend. Many who died during the height of the pandemic were not afforded the funeral service they might have expected but they were all remembered, during what was at times an emotional service, in prayers, readings and poems.
The day was also be an opportunity for everyone to reflect on the sacrifices made and the impact on our daily lives, and tribute was paid to the work of health and social care staff, frontline workers, researchers and all those who volunteered and showed acts of kindness during this unprecedented time.
Parishioners were invited to light a candle in memory of a loved one, regardless of when they had passed away, and many availed of the opportunity.
7th March, 2025 - World Day of Prayer
World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christians who come together to observe a common Day of Prayer each year. Seven churches make up the Templepatrick area and each church takes its turn to host the service - it will be the turn of Kilbride Parish in 2028. This year it was held in Templepatrick Presbyterian Church on Friday 7th March and had been prepared by Christian women in the Cook Islands, a group of fifteen islands in the Pacific Ocean. The theme of the service was "I made you wonderful." (based on the words of Psalm 139.) Kilbride Parish was well represented - seven parishioners sang in the choir and Phyllis Glenn and Joan Lutton were readers. The congregations have, sadly, diminished over the years but nevertheless it was a very enjoyable and uplifting service with wonderful singing and prayerful fellowship. Mrs Alison McClure, who was one of the medical support team in Templepatrick Surgery before retirement, was the guest speaker. She gave a very interesting talk drawing from her medical knowledge and experience and her Christian faith to emphasise that we are indeed wonderfully made. Tea and fellowship followed the service in the Church Hall.
4th March, 2025 - Watchmen: Townlands of Ulster
The Watchmen group had another very interesting talk this evening, this time the subject was the townlands of Ulster. Andrew Kane, a parishioner in the adjoining parish of Templepatrick, works as an historian and author and is employed by the Ulster Historical Foundation. Over the course of a number of years he has been researching extensively and has recently completed the Townland Atlas of Ulster which is the go-to reference book for anyone who needs to know anything about any townland in Ulster. Of particular interest in the talk were the townlands that make up our own parish of Kilbride. Andrew’s knowledge of the history of townlands and their use in administration in bygones years and even in the present day is second to none and it was clear he knows his subject matter inside out! A thoroughly enjoyable talk once again.
12th February, 2025 - Kilbride Parish Church Ladies’ Group: Talk by Rev. Mark Reid, Chaplain to The Mission to Seafarers.
Rev Mark Reid, Chaplain for The Mission to Seafarers
The Ladies Group was delighted to welcome Rev Mark Reid, a former diocesan reader at Kilbride Parish Church, to give a talk about his work as Chaplain to The Mission to Seafarers.
Rev. Mark advised that the Mission to Seafarers is now a worldwide organisation with 240 mission centres in 50 countries, open 365 days a year, to care for seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs.
In 1835, Rev. John Ashley realised that no one was looking after the spiritual needs of seafarers and established the Bristol Channel Mission. This inspired other ports to set up similar centres and in 1856 they became one organisation, The Mission to Seamen. In 2000, the name changed to The Mission to Seafarers, to reflect its role in caring for seafarers of all genders.
Rev Mark’s role as Chaplain extends from Lisahally Port, outside Londonderry to Larne, Belfast and Warrenpoint and very recently has been extended to include Dublin Port. With 93% of trade goods coming into Northern Ireland by sea, hundreds of seafarers are arriving at our ports every week. This number is also increasing as cruise ships are regular visitors to Belfast. Life as seafaring men and women means that they can spend up to 9 months away from home and family, working on average 100 hours per week. They are not well paid and most of their earnings is sent home to support their family. Seafaring is a dangerous occupation, bad weather and piracy adding further problems. This can lead to loneliness and mental health problems.
Mark explained that the purpose of the Mission is to support the seafarers’ spiritual needs and to compensate for the lack of facilities on board by providing access to wifi, internet and SIM cards, a comfortable place to rest and relax, a chance to purchase food and toiletries and transport to shops and local amenities.
As Port Chaplain, Rev. Mark conducts about 18 services per week on the ships in port, these are by invitation to him from the ships.
The Flying Angel Centre in Belfast Port also has a clothes shop where donations of warm clothing and coats will be gratefully accepted.
4th February, 2025 - Watchmen: Chaplains at War
The men’s group met in the Parish Room this evening to hear a talk given by Professor Brian M. Walker of Queen’s University, Belfast. The subject was the service of two chaplains in wartime; Rev. John Redmond during WW1 and Rev. Leslie Walker during WW2.
Rev. John Redmond ended his ministry in the church as Rector of Kilbride in 1951 before retiring to his home county of Armagh.
Brian M. Walker is an historian and a political scientist as well as professor emeritus of Irish Studies at Queen’s University and he gave a fascinating talk on the lives of two Church of Ireland rectors who became chaplains to serve during the two world wars.
Rev. John Redmond is a man very familiar to parishioners in Kilbride having served the parish as Rector for more than 20 years. Professor Walker’s account of him was fascinating and was based largely on diaries that Rev. Redmond wrote while serving and which are now in the custody of the Somme museum at Conlig.
The story of Rev. Leslie Walker was much more personal as he was Professor Walker’s own father! He related how his father joined the forces as an army chaplain and landed on the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy.
An extremely interesting talk on both men and the discussion continued later over a cup of tea.
26th January, 2025 - Holy Baptisms
It was wonderful to welcome two families to the morning service today as two children were presented for baptism and the church was well filled for the occasion. Rev. John McClure officiated and baptised the little girl Ayla Rose and the baby boy Elijah Samuel David. Ayla is the third child of William and Louanne Truesdale and Elijah is the first child of Philip and Karla Kerr.
The Truesdale family with Rev. John McClure
The Kerr family with Rev. John McClure
The service also included a commemoration for Holocaust Memorial Day remembering the many millions of lives lost during the Holocaust during World War 2 as well as in genocides since.
15th January, 2025 - Kilbride Parish Church Ladies’ Group: Talk by Avril Nicholl, M.B.E.
It was a cold evening outside but the Parish Room was warm and cosy as the ladies of the parish gathered for their first event of the new year. The evening began with everyone saying the group’s opening prayer together.
Avril Nicholl has been involved with the Riding for the Disabled Association (R.H.A.) for more than 40 years and in recognition of her voluntary work with the group for such a prolonged period she was awarded the M.B.E. in the Queen’s New Year Honours List announced in late December 2016. Avril came along to the meeting tonight to describe her wonderful trip to Buckingham Palace to receive this prestigious and deserved award. From the moment she arrived at her hotel in London she said she was treated like royalty. There was champagne in her room on arrival and she said the staff in the hotel were so courteous and helpful from the moment she stepped through the door. Avril then described her arrival at Buckingham Palace where everyone receiving an award was taken through the plush corridors to a beautiful state-room close to the main palace ballroom where the presentation ceremony was to take place. The staff there went through the whole process of where to be and what to do at the appropriate time. She was rubbing shoulders with many ordinary people from all walks of life reflecting all areas of British society. Numerous well-known celebrities were amongst the gathering including the Olympic cyclist Laura Kenny and England ladies’ footballer, Alex Scott, to name only two. Avril described her day in detail before playing a personalised video of the whole day’s proceedings and it was clear that she was completely at ease in her surroundings and thoroughly enjoying this wonderful occasion. Her conversation with the Princess Royal as she received her award was like that of two people who had known each other for many years. Both Avril and the Princess Royal were so relaxed and at ease as Avril chatted about her experience as a volunteer with the R.H.A.
All too soon the presentation was over but both Avril and her husband Des were able to see a little more of the palace as they moved through the palace to have a set of official photographs taken. A wonderful record of a proud and magnificent day!
Following this presentation Joan Lutton presented Avril with a gift as a token of the group’s appreciation.
An exchange of pot-luck Christmas gifts also took place this evening while everyone enjoyed a cup of tea.
