Ms Ceire Sadlier, Grants Officer with the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference – pictured above with Canon Noel McGahan, PP of Saint Macartan’s, The Forth – reflects on her recent visit to Saint Macartan’s The Forth Chapel in Co Tyrone, and shares insights on the parish’s initiatives and community programmes.
Ms Sadlier said, “Occasionally I have an opportunity to visit parishes across the island. My visit to Saint Macartan’s (The Forth Chapel) in Tyrone, is one that I will never forget. The church is tucked in off a windy country road, peeking out from behind a stone wall that encircles it. As I wait to meet the parish priest, I walk around the church which is almost entirely surrounded by graves and has a 360-degree view of the surrounding hills. The sandstone is a lovely warm biscuity colour, recently cleaned. But the building is not breath taking, inside or out. Like so many churches, concrete render applied many years ago has acted like a sponge, drawing water into the soft stone and causing plaster to fall off inside. It has a simple layout inside, unremarkable at first glance.
“It is only when parish volunteer tour guide Geraldine McKenna, along with Canon McGahan, appear that the building and its surroundings are brought to life. Within a few minutes in their company, I have learned that this pre-famine church was built on a ring fort, that in the graveyard lies an inspiring young female poet and patriot, who collaborated with WB Yeats, that a large bush in the grounds is what remains of shrubbery that once hid lantern-carrying Catholics who celebrated secret Masses there in Penal times.
“The way I look at the stained glass Clarke Studio windows changes entirely as Geraldine breathes life into the symbols and details in every little pane. They explain that above the flat wooden panelled ceiling is a beautiful cathedral roof. Canon McGahan insists that she tells me about the completely unique brass crucifix at the back of the altar because, in fact, it was Geraldine who designed it as a young woman with an interest in art.
“In humble corners are the awards and accolades that the parish has received, including National Churches’ Trusts first-ever Church of the Year (2022), beating off competition from all over England, Scotland, Wales and from the rest of the North. Canon McGahan explains that, when you see the church, you might wonder why it won when there are so many exquisite, ornate and meticulous buildings that could have been deserving winners. I am informed that the reason is that: ‘It is the people that make it. The community. This Church is all about community.’”
Ms Sadlier continued, “Canon McGahan credits the people of the parish for coming together and driving forward a phased restoration project of the church. Starting strategically, using a survey to enable parishioners and community members to have their voices heard in the project as well as a full conservation survey of the building, allowed the parish to make informed and inclusive decisions about what way to go about the project. The group has leveraged a number of grants and other capacity-building supports to strengthen the ability of the community to include as many people as possible in their heritage. This includes engaging in tour guide training, and creating a panel of volunteer tour guides.
“This parish planning group has developed a suite of resources for visitors and schools. The parish is happy to share its learning and resources with other parishes so that they can adapt their education programme, heritage trail guide, and visitor guide to use in their own communities,” Ms Sadlier said.
For information and advice on grants available to parishes contact Ceire Sadlier on [email protected].
To contact and to discover more about The Forth Chapel, please click here.
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