Bishop to preach at Gospel choir’s 62nd praise festival

A total of about 65 choirmen from the city and throughout the province are expected to take part in the festival, starting at 7.30pm.

Local choir leader Craig Henderson said: “We would like to welcome Bishop Ken Good as speaker this year. As many already know, he was elected Bishop of Derry and Raphoe in March, 2002, and was consecrated as Bishop on June 11 the same year.”

Bishop Good, who was educated at Trinity College in Dublin, was ordained in 1977 and began his career as a curate in Belfast. After this he was Chaplain and Head of Religious Education at Ashton School, Cork.

In 1984 he became Rector of Dunganstown, and in 1990 of Shankill Parish, Lurgan. His final appointment before elevation to the Episcopate was as Archdeacon of Dromore.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many churches and trustees of Mission Halls throughout Northern Ireland and Donegal who continue to invite the choir year after year to sing and witness to the many hundreds of people who attend their services,” said Craig.

“We are also grateful to those who invite us to sing to residents of homes for the elderly and sheltered housing complexes.”

Miss Helen McCay, musical director of the Londonderry choir, will conduct the entire programme of choir pieces.

The local choir members will be joined by those from Ballymena, Banbridge and the Belfast-based Newtownbreda, Iron Hall and Newtownards choirs.

The massed choir will be accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Sadie Abernethy, of Newtownards. Mrs. Abernethy and the Kilfennan organist Terry Smith will accompany the congregational singing.

The offering will go to the South American Missionary Society (SAMS).