Rededication service held at Cathedral

At the event were Finny O'Sullivan, who organised the restoration, and Waring McCrady, from Sewannee, Tennessee, a descendant of Samuel Lewis Crommelin (16-52-1727). US1544-527cd Picture: Cliff Donaldson

The rededication service was held at Lisburn Cathedral last week to acknowledge the completion of a major project to restore Crommelin, Dubordieu and Coulson memorials at a cost of £82,500. The event was organised by the Lisburn Memorial Trust (of the Lisburn Historical Society).

Among some of the guests was the author of ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ Louis de Berniere who was in attendance.

The Lisburn Memorial Trust was set out two years ago and obtained funding from Esme Mitchell Foundation, Lisburn City Council, the Huguenot Society, Lisburn Historical Society and donors to carry out a survey of the memorials.

They then successfully applied for £82,500 of lottery funding, which was then used to restore the memorials at the Cathedral of the Crommelin, Dubourdieu and Coulson families, all who made a major contribution to the development of the linen industry.

To acknowledge the Huguenot origins of the Crommelin and Dubourdieu families, part of the service was in French. The service was attended by descendants from Holland, France, England and the USA then followed by a reception at the Lisburn Museum.

Waring de Berniers from Carolina, who generously commissioned a medallion in bronze of the head of the Louis Crommelin placed on the memorial, gave a brief history of the various branches of the family.

Descendants of Saumarez Dubourdier also gave a talk about their family.

Children from two local schools also attended and their art work associated with the project was on display.

A member of the Lisburn Memorials Trust Finny O’Sullivan, said they were very grateful of the support of the staff at the Lisburn Museum and Lisburn Cathedral.