Harlandic Choir to give Annual Praise Service at First Kilraughts Church

It was during the latter days of November 1944 that the statement “let’s form a choir” was made to a group of men singing round a coke fire in the Victoria Works of the famous Belfast shipyard of Harland and Wolff during a lunch time break. The ‘sing-songs’ of these men sounded good to the listeners and were a daily feature to help break the monotony of men working long hours during the war years. At the first meeting, called for those interested in the formation of a choir, the response was so encouraging that rehearsal began the next week.

The result was the Harlandic Male Voice Choir and sixty six years later the choir is still going strong. They have participated in many local and national television and radio broadcasts, appearing twice on the popular ITV “Highway” series. The Choir has also performed many times on “Downtown Radio” sponsored shows at the Arts and Strand theatres. The Harlandic have also over the years worked on stage and television with a variety of celebrated stars, including Sir Harry Seacombe, Stuart Burrows, Moira Anderson, our own Maureen Hegarty and Joseph Locke.

They have sang in cathedrals and churches all over the United Kingdom and in 1998 undertook a 16 - day tour of Canada and the USA.

It is hoped there will be a large congregation to welcome them to First Kilraughts, on their first visit to the church.

The very Rev. Dr Andrew Rodgers, who will give a short address, is a former Moderator of the General Assembly. From 1965 to 1996 he was minister of Dungannon, the largest Presbyterian congregation in County Tyrone. In retirement, he has preached in many pulpits in the Route Presbytery. An erudite and interesting speaker, he is highly regarded and always a welcome visitor to First Kilraughts.

There will be supper after the service in the Robinson Hall and all are invited to what promises to be an outstanding evening of prayer and worship.