Two different denomination churches share one building in Clogher Diocese

by Gráinne Connolly

St. Maeldoid's Church of Ireland in Castleblayney, in the Clogher Diocese will be sharing it's building with church neighbour St.Mary's Catholic Church. 

In an example of neighbourliness and friendship, St.Maeldoid's offered to share their premises as St.Mary's will be closed for a year for renovations. 

The gesture was approved by the Bishop of Clogher, Reverend John McDowell, and was accepted by the Parish priest of St.Mary's, Father Pat McHugh and his parishioners. 

On Sunday mornings, the normal Anglican service will be held at 10am before the church is used for Sunday mass at 11.45am. 

There's also daily mass from Monday to Thursday and at other times. 

The Church of Ireland rector of St. Maeldoid's, Reverend Neal Phair said he was pleased to help: 

"I am absolutely delighted that we can be of assistance to our brothers and sisters in Christ at St.Mary's by offering St.Maeldoid's Church as a place of worship while the renovations to St.Mary's take place until June next year. 

Father Pat McHugh also praised their Church of Ireland neighbours for reaching out: 

"Our parish is blessed by the generosity of Bishop McDowell, Reverend Neal, the members of the select Vestry and the congregation at St.Maeldoid's Chruch. 

"Their invitation to use St.Maeldoid's during the closure of St.Mary's is yet another example of the exceptional goodwill and wholesome spirit of Christian solidarity which we experience with our local Church of Ireland community."