City Grand Lodge Annual Service

St Columb’s Cathedral was filled to capacity on Sunday, July 7, for the City of Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge Annual Service, at which the Dean of Derry, Very Rev Dr William Morton, unfurled a new banner and dedicated new regalia for the Brethren.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Jul 2013, 14:21 BST
Officers of the City of Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge pictured with their new banner and collarettes which were dedicated during a service in St. Columb's Cathedral on Sunday. Included is the Very Rev Dr. William Morton, Dean of Derry. INLS2813-149KMOfficers of the City of Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge pictured with their new banner and collarettes which were dedicated during a service in St. Columb's Cathedral on Sunday. Included is the Very Rev Dr. William Morton, Dean of Derry. INLS2813-149KM
Officers of the City of Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge pictured with their new banner and collarettes which were dedicated during a service in St. Columb's Cathedral on Sunday. Included is the Very Rev Dr. William Morton, Dean of Derry. INLS2813-149KM

Before placing new collarettes on the City Grand Master and his Deputy, James Hetherington and Maurice Devenney, respectively, the Dean unfurled the new City Grand Lodge banner, an impressive double-sided banner featuring the Cathedral on the front and the Peace Bridge on the reverse. The new regalia were designed especially for the UK City of Culture and bear the branded logo and date.

In his welcome and address the Dean commented on the significance of the Twelfth in the city, which has been granted Flagship status, coinciding not only with the 400th anniversary of the links between Londonderry and London, but also taking place during the UK City of Culture year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master formally invited the Dean to perform the unfurling and dedication at the outset of the service, and responding the Dean commented: “This is a significant and important occasion for you all. All this is really part of the UK City of Culture as on one side of the banner you have a picture of St Columb’s Cathedral, the oldest building in the city, and on the other side is a picture of the Peace Bridge, the most recent construction in the city. They span the past 400 years as we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the link between Londonderry, so this is a significant occasion and a memorable one for you all.”

In his address The Dean reflected on the twin themes of ‘communication’ and ‘imagery’ and said Jesus was a communicator par excellence . He went on to commended the City Grand Orange Lodge’s attempts in recent years to reach out to the entire community of Londonderry and the strides taken to explain and share the culture and history of the Lodge.

Hymns for the occasion were ‘Be Still, for the presence of The Lord,’ ‘The Lord is my Shepherd,’ ‘There is a green hill,’ ‘Love Devine, all loves excelling’ and ‘The Church’s one foundation’ were sung.

The readings were Micah 6:1-8 by Sister Hilary Steele and Luke 10: 25-37, by Wor Bro James Hetherington.

The organist was Nicky Morton.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Following the service the new UK City of Culture regalia was distributed to the District and City officers by the Grand Master, Bro Hetherington.

Responding to the Dean, in a brief address Bro Hetherington thanked the Dean, organist and Select Vestry for their support and work with the City Grand Lodge, and went on to invite Brethren to a parade in Raphoe late on Sunday evening.

He said the new banner would be paraded for the first time on Friday at the Twelfth demonstration in Londonderry.

The collection was taken up in aid of the City of Londonderry Orange Widows Fund.

The parade to and from the Cathedral was led with music by Killalloo Accordion Band and Churchill Flute Band.