Bishop opens new hall at historic Saul Parish Church

Bishop opens new hall at historic Saul Parish Church

6 February 2013

A NEW hall has been opened at Saul Parish Church.

A special ceremony to mark the occasion was held last Saturday, with the official opening performed by the Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt. Rev. Harold Miller.

He was joined by the Dean of Down, the Very. Rev. Henry Hull, local clergy and dignitaries and parishioners, to lead prayers of dedication and blessing at the new facility.

The new hall was constructed with funding from the Tourist Board and Down Council and complements Saul Church, a site of historical and ecclesiastical significance.

Dean Hull, who is delighted with the project, explained Saul is a very special place for those who worship in the parish. He said it's also a place where visitors and pilgrims are welcomed, explaining that rebuilding the hall is a way of "opening up Saul to be used by others."

Dean Hull warmly thanked the funders for their support and Down Council chairman Mickey Coogan and councillor Terry Andrews who both attended last weekend's ceremony.

The Dean also paid tribute to former South Down MP Eddie McGrady who was instrumental in helping the project get off the ground and to Ethel Turley, Treasurer to the Select Vestry.

The new hall has been built on the footprint of the old building and retains some of the charm of the original. It has a wood burning stove and fireplace at one end, above which are written the words of Matthew 18: 20: Where two or three are gathered together in my name I am there in their midst.

Dean Hull continued: "That really captures what we are about here. It's about gathering. Saul is a place of prayer and we're committed here to gathering to pray and to welcoming visitors."

Designed by architect Eddie Quinn and built by contractor Leo Matheson, the new Saul hall is bright and airy with a lot of light coming through the large windows.

There are excellent kitchen and toilet facilities and panels with information about the area for visitors. The hall will be used for parish events, a regular prayer meeting and as a place of retreat for quiet days.

Saul's parishioners were out in force last weekend and are equally thrilled with the results. 

"It's a great resource to have and we're very grateful to Down Council and the Tourist Board for their funding," said Edwin Bleakley. "It's going to be a great asset, not only to the Parish Church but also to the tourists as they visit the site. We hope they'll enjoy the facility and be blessed by what we have here."

The rebuilding project comes at a significant anniversary as in October this year it will be 80 years since the completion of the church which presently stands on the historic site. 

Last Saturday, Bishop Harold looked to the future. He said a hall on the unique site has "so much potential for welcoming the whole community."

He continued: "It has so much potential for quiet days, retreats and for building up people in faith and for passing faith on to a new generation. It's such a great blessing to see it as it is today and I want to say congratulations to everybody who has enabled this to happen. I look forward to seeing everything that happens from it in the years to come."

Councillor Coogan described the new hall as "fantastic" and said the building is a credit to the local parish, adding: "I'd like to congratulate everybody involved for the wonderful work they've done here."