JOY and celebration gave option to a “great sense of loss” when a hearth devastated the Church of the Holy Name, Greenisland, in Northern Ireland, on Sunday night, the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Revd George Davison, has said.
No one was hurt within the blaze. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are treating the incident as arson.
A couple of hours before, the congregation had celebrated the church’s seventieth anniversary.
Bishop Davison said in a press release on Monday: “I’m at a loss to know why a church, that’s such an integral a part of the community and a beacon of hope, positivity and goodwill, ought to be targeted for destruction, but would call on all members of the community to assist the PSNI of their investigations.”
It had been “heartbreaking”, he said, to face with parishioners and watch firefighters attempt to avoid wasting the constructing. “The Minister-in-Charge, the Revd Dr Isy Hawthorne-Steele, and the local church community are deeply upset and shocked but determined that they’ll proceed their work and witness and have been overwhelmed by the expressions of support.”
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The Bishop continued: “The Church of the Holy Name is just not a burnt constructing. It is a vibrant group of people that love their God and love the community He has given them to serve. They are devastated, but also they are strong and courageous, and they’ll proceed to worship together and reach out to others with Christ’s message.”
In a Facebook post, Dr Hawthorne–Steele described the incident as “a shocking and terrible night for our parish and the entire Greenisland community. . .
“We have been overwhelmed by the support and love of the Greenisland community — individuals who helped us out with all the things from traffic control, available toilets (much needed!) and after all a cuppa to regular the nerves. We are heartbroken but additionally so thankful — to the hearth crews, to the local people, to our neighbours who sounded the alarm, and . . . that nobody was hurt.”
She continued: “We have just spent the weekend giving thanks for the primary 70 years of Greenisland Parish life. We have every faith that with God’s guidance, the strength of our parish family and the support of our amazing friends and neighbours, our story will go on.”
The church had been hosting an exhibition of “memories” from the church community. Fire crews managed to avoid wasting boxes of photos and heirlooms that had been left under a table, which Dr Hawthorne–Steele described on Monday as a “miracle”.
“They’re slightly bit soggy and singed, but a few of the most irreplaceable items (like Eileen’s wedding album, Susan’s Brownie uniform, Sonia’s confirmation photo and June’s ‘wedlock rock’ newspaper clipping) have been rescued.”
Police are appealing for information in regards to the fire.
Inspector Knowles, of the PSNI, said in a press release on Monday: “The church was celebrating its seventieth anniversary this week, and last night was busy specifically. Thankfully nobody was injured, nevertheless a major amount of harm was caused to each buildings.
“We are treating this as arson and I’m appealing to anyone who can have witnessed anyone suspicious in the world or to anyone with CCTV, doorbell or other footage that might assist with enquiries, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 1437 of 01/09/24.”
