St Patrick – velvethummingbee

Posted on March 20, 2021March 19, 2021 by David Steers

Pilgrimage – in the steps of St Patrick

Our online Sunday worship today comes from Clough and has, as its starting point, Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From whence does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

A view of the Mountains of Mourne on St Patrick’s Day 2021

Psalm 121 is associated with travelling and with pilgrimage, neither of which are particularly possible at the moment, but the reading is given a vivid backdrop by the sight of the mountains of Mourne.

In the service Clough church organist Alfie McClelland plays the hymns: Seek ye first the kingdom of God, Once to every soul and nation and Through all the changing scenes of life.

Click on the video below to see the service:

Sunday Worship from Clough Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, available from 9.45 am on Sunday, 21st March

By tradition St Patrick is buried in Downpatrick but this year the town was inevitably much quieter and more subdued than usual, although a brief ceremony was held at his grave. But I recorded a few reflections on St Patrick’s Day which can be seen in the following video:

Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Reflections: St Patrick’s Day (click on the video above)

According to tradition St Patrick is buried with the remains of St Brigid and St Columba here in the grounds of Down Cathedral.

Posted on October 5, 2018 by David Steers

New St Patrick’s Cross at Down Cathedral

I was very pleased to be amongst those present for the Civic reception for the new High Cross erected at Down Cathedral on 24^th September. Based on fragments of an ancient cross kept in the Cathedral it is carved from Mourne granite, weighs five tonnes and towers over its immediate surroundings. It is an impressive structure, a work that eloquently reflects the legacy of St Patrick so close to his grave. The fragments that are inside the Cathedral were originally found on the site that is now marked as St Patrick’s grave and are thought to date from the eighth century. The pieces were digitally scanned and the decoration carved onto the new Cross to create a pristine replica of what may once have stood at the entrance to the Benedictine monastery which originally stood on the hill.

Hand print at the foot of the Cross for pilgrims

Posted on August 5, 2018August 5, 2018 by David Steers

Downpatrick Treasure Hunt 2018

Sending the cars out from the Lakeside Inn at the start of the Treasure Hunt

The Downpatrick congregation held a very successful and well-supported Treasure Hunt on Saturday, 4^th August. With a new route taking us in part through the town and up to Struell Wells with thirty-eight fiendish questions devised by Marion and Anna the journey took approximately one hour and back at the Lakeside there was a very welcome hog roast for participants. A large team made sure everything went smoothly with cars being timed out and back in again and everyone enjoyed a really excellent evening. Renie entertained everyone with her playing and we were again very fortunate with the weather. Thanks goes to everyone who helped in any way including those who donated prizes and to Margaret and Geoffrey for making the Lakeside Inn available to us. We also raised, at the time of writing, around £850 for church funds. A very successful evening.

Ballydugan Lake

Struell Wells, where St Patrick sang Psalms and prepared to Christianize Ireland

Greeting the cars on their return

Recording the returning cars’ times

Queuing for the hog roast

Making the draw for the ballot

Inside the marquee

Swans and cygnets (Photos: Jack Steers)

Posted on March 17, 2018 by David Steers

St Patrick’s Day, Downpatrick 2018

Preparations getting underway in the town

Going up to the Cathedral for the service

The congregation gather for a photograph inside the Cathedral

Processing up to the grave after the service

Visiting Bishop Alf Cooper from Chile lays a wreath

St Patrick’s grave outside Down Cathedral

The giant statue of the saint

Posted on April 18, 2017April 18, 2017 by David Steers

St Patrick’s Centre Terrace Garden Downpatrick

Walking through the Garden at the rear of the St Patrick’s Centre in Downpatrick I noticed how attractive the Garden now is. The little details are worth examining, like St Patrick’s ship (not the original one I would think), the standing stone, and the fairy thorn brought there from another site but growing well set in a Celtic cross just to remind people of Patrick’s victory over superstition. The Cathedral and the Southwell School provide a marvellous backdrop.

Looking towards the Southwell School

The Fairy Thorn

Standing Stone

St Patrick’s Ship and the Cathedral