George Walker 1645-1690 : Bishop of Derry Designate 1690

George Walker's early years are obscure, but he is thought to have been born around 1645. He matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin in 1662 and later took Holy Orders. In 1669 he was appointed to the parishes of Lissan and Desertlyn, diocese of Armagh. Five years later he became Rector of Donoughmore, near Dungannon, County Tyrone. It was here he was to remain until the outbreak of political unrest caused by the contending Williamite and Jacobite forces. With the shutting of the gates of Londonderry against the approaching Catholic regiment in December 1688, Walker raised a regiment in defence of a possible massacre of Protestants. Its first engagement in combat was around Clady and Lifford in mid-April, about 15 miles upstream from Derry. The Williamite forces suffered a rout and so anxious were the inhabitants of Derry to safeguard their own position that Walker found himself locked out of the city for a period of time in the ensuing retreat. The Governor of the city, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Lunday, was heavily criticized for his lack of leadership in the debacle. In his judgement the Jacobite forces against them, he had decided on the futility of holding out, opting instead for a negotiated surrender. His defeatism, in the face of rising internal opposition to his command, made his position untenable. He was deposed and forced to flee. In his place the soldiers and citizens elected Major Henry Baker and Walker as joint Governors.

The Siege of Derry, which was to last for 105 days, gave George Walker as Governor a central role in the city's defence. His stirring sermons based on a wholehearted trust in God's ultimate providence undoubtedly kept spirits from sinking within the city walls. In its aftermath he rose to fame and was feted in England and Scotland. Oxford and Cambridge awarded him honorary degrees, he was given the thanks of the House of Commons, and the Irish Society gave a banquet in his honour. Most significant was William III's promise of the bishopric of Derry when it became vacant. In June 1690 the absentee Bishop Hopkins died leaving the path clear for Walker's appointment. Fate, however, decided otherwise as he was to be killed in action the following July during the Battle of the Boyne. He was buried where he fell, but thirteen years later  his supposed body was removed, at the request of his widow, to the parish of Donoughmore. In 1862 a window was erected in his memory in St Columb's Cathedral. In addition, a memorial pillar crowned with a statue of him was erected on the city walls in 1826. In 1973 it was blown up by Republican terrorists.

Walker was also to publish A True Account of the Siege of Londonderry (1689) in which he was to portray himself as a heroic figure in the whole affair. It was thus criticized for its egotistical tone. In particular, it provoked sustained criticism from Presbyterians who felt that he had underplayed their part during the siege. In his defence, Walker was quickly forced to follow up with A Vindication. The Revd John Mackenzie, who was Walker's regimental chaplain, carried the Presbyterian argument to the militant cleric in his Narrative. Despite taking issue on a number of valid points, his critiqued suffered from an overtly personal attack on Walker's character.

George Chadwick 1840-1923: Bishop of Derry and Raphoe 1896-1916

George Chadwick was born in Youghal, County Cork on the 10th October 1840, son of Hutchison Chadwick, chief accountant of the Great Southern and Western Railway of Ireland. Educated at Wesley College and Trinity College, Dublin, Chadwick graduated B.A. 1862, M.A. 1867, B.D. 1876, D.D. 1877. He honed his skills as a debater and preacher in the College's Historical Society and was elected auditor in 1862, winning gold medals for oratory and English composition. The obituary article of the Londonderry Sentinel states:

"He was one of the leaders of a group of undergraduates remarkable for their high moral tone, their abstinence from coarse wordy pleasures, and their determination to make religion their guide in life"

Chadwick subsequently became curate of St. Anne's, Belfast, 1865-70; rector of St. James, Belfast, 1870-73; rector of Armagh, 1873-96; prebendary of Tynan (Armagh diocese) 1875-85; treasurer of Armagh Cathedral, 1885-6; dean of Armagh 1886-96; Donnellan lecturer in 1878-9; select preacher at Oxford University 1888-9. He was elected by the diocesan synod of Armagh on the 18th February 1896 as "ad interim Bishop of Armagh" on the vacancy of the primacy and under the constitution, when William Alexander was elected by the house of bishops to the primacy, he succeeded to the See of Derry. He was enthroned in Derry Cathedral on 28th March 1896.

George Chadwick, like his predecessor, was regarded as one of the ablest men in the Church of Ireland of his day. His literary gifts, together with an ability to get the point across forcefully, made him in the words of his friend, Primate D'Arcy,

"A speaker of great distinction and power, with a style which was quite his own"

To D'Arcy, however, it was not in carefully prepared speeches,

"Which seemed to result in over-elaboration",

but in ordinary conversation and impromptu debate where Chadwick's talents were noted. Similarly, his successor Joseph Peacocke saw Chadwick as a master of terse, epigrammatic speech. The annual General Synod provided the ideal platform for hid debating talents:

"As a preacher and platform speaker the late Bishop was in the first rank; but it was in debate that his power was so signally displayed... Both in his Protestantism and in his Politics his order of mind coincided with the famous motto of his episcopal city. He was not a man to make surrenders; nor was he a man that any controversialist could touch with impunity" (C.F.D'Arcy, The Adventures of a Bishop, London, 1934, p.142)

The period after disestablishment (1870-1900) saw a gradual reorganization of the church's resources which reflected its new financial responsibilities. The number of clergy working in Derry diocese had declined by 10% while in Raphoe it was down by 12%. In 1870 the united diocese had thirty-four curates. By 1904 this figure had been reduced to eighteen. The bishop was sympathetic to the difficulties faced by those clergy who worked in isolated parts of the diocese epically in areas suffering from emigration and where intellectual stimulus was lacking. Yet he was also noted as a strict administrator of his diocese. Chadwick continued:

"I have learned with surprise that even serious structural alterations have been made in some of our churches without my consent, still more without s faculty" (Londonderry Sentinel., 28th October. 1909.)

He thus exhorted the clergy to familiarize themselves with the church's constitutional law to avoid such mistakes in the future.

It had become evident by the latter half of the nineteenth century that "ritualism" or "romanising tendencies" had become a significant element in the Church of England. Although the movement did not have much influence in Ireland (due to the traditionally low nature of Irish Anglicanism), Chadwick, early in his episcopate, nonetheless felt moved to defend the church's position from what he saw as an unqualified attack from within his own diocese. He thus stated:

"My service is delightful, anything like demonstrative and elaborate ritual affects me as in literature a parody does. For me to be a Ritualist is impossible and absurd." (Londonderry Sentinel., 6th October. 1898.)

  

He insisted that the church's critics look at its canons to realize its position was doctrinally low. Although he respected the position of traditional high churchmen, he nonetheless reaffirmed that the Church of Ireland was "safe against ritualistic innovation"

The preoccupation over such matters reflected a growing polarization in the community at large as the nineteenth century progressed. Differences between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism were becoming more sharply defined. On the question of church unity, for example, Chadwick saw no movements towards harmony with Rome until she disavowed such contentious points of doctrine as her infallibility. The bishop also took exception to the promulgation of the 1908 papal decree, Ne Temere, which required the non-Roman Catholic partner in a mixed marriage to consent to the bringing up of their children in the Roman tradition. By contrast he was keen to promote unity with other Reformed Churches which was as much for political reasons as spiritual:

"It is a small thing, in this Ireland of intrigue and faction, of desperate surrenders to expendiency by unscrupulous politicians, that in public affairs we should only have half the influence we might well exert, if only we were a homogeneous force? And yet this political weakness is but an index of our spiritual enfeeblement from the same cause."  (Londonderry Sentinel., 6th October. 1898.)

Chadwick's episcopate covered a crucial period of Irish history which witnessed a further hardening of Unionist and Nationalist sentiment. Political unity amongst Protestants was essential if they were to withstand the challenge posed by the Third Home Rule Bill of 1912. Unionist's principle objection to the establishment of Home Rule was the fear engendered by being a Protestant minority in an Ireland where three-quarters of the population were Roman Catholic. To Ulster Unionists the belief that Home Rule would effectively signal a policy of discrimination against them, and end the prosperity which they had enjoyed under the Union, was the fear uppermost in their minds. The bishop was a convinced Unionist and was one of the 471,414 persons who signed the Ulster Covenant in 1912. It was pledge by the Unionists of Ulster to support "all means which may be found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to set up a Home Rule Parliament in Ireland". Chadwick subsequently wrote:

"I never in my life saw anything like Ulster Day (the day the covenant was signed). The churches were filled; and when emptied the multitude did not even cheer: there was only one grim and fixed determination on a thousand faces, to live as freemen or to die. They simply signed. (Londonderry Sentinel., 12th October. 1912. )

Chadwick believed that the north had a right to defend itself by force which had been implicitly stated in the covenant, and he addressed a meeting of churchmen in the Albert Hall, London on the subject. Although the outbreak of the Great War suspended the bill from becoming operational , the constitutional crisis of the period 1912-1914 had effectively demonstrated the mutually exclusive demands of Ulster Unionism and Irish Nationalism.

The Bishop published a number of works:

Christ bearing witness to Himself, 1879

As He that Serveth, 1880

My Emotional Life, 1882

Pilate's Gift and other sermons, 1896

Aids to Belief, 1899

Poems, Chiefly Scared, 1900

The Intellect and the Heart, 1905

The Bishop resigned on medical advice in 1916 and went to live in Dublin.

Cuthbert Irvine Peacock 1903-1994 : Bishop of Derry and Raphoe 1970-1975

Cuthbert Peacocke was born in Dublin on the 26th April 1903. Son of Rt. Revd Joseph Irvine Peacocke, bishop of Derry and Raphoe 1916-1945, Cuthbert was educated at St Columba's College and Trinity College, Dublin were he read modern history and political science. He graduated B.A. 1925, M.A. 1929. He was ordained deacon 1926 and was curate of Seapatrick (Dromore) in the period 1926-1930. Between 1930-1933 he was head of the Church of Ireland Southern Mission to Belfast, Ballymacarett (Down), the main shipyard parish of east Belfast at the time of the 1920s Depression. He subsequently became Rector of Derriaghy (Connor) 1933-1935; Rector of St Mark's Dundela, Belfast (Down) 1935-1956; Chaplain to the Forces 1939-1945 (serving with the 8th Belfast Heavy Anti-Aircraft Unit in France); private chaplain to the Bishop of Down and Dromore 1945-1956; Rural Dean of Holywood 1948-1950; Archdeacon of Down and Canon of Belfast 1950-1956; Dean and Vicar of Belfast 1956-1970. On the 16th October he was appointed by the electoral college as Bishop of Derry and Raphoe and enthroned in St Columb's Cathedral on 22nd January 1970. He represented the third generation of his family to the episcopate.

In 1970 Cuthbert Peacocke became Bishop of Derry and Raphoe at a time when communal discord had reached new heights. His role as a religious leader striving for peace and reconciliation in a divided society proved particularly challenging and trying. The bishop consistently believed and publicly stated during his episcopate that greater efforts were needed for people of differing viewpoints to meet and understand one other. During his tenure he defended meetings between Protestant and Roman Catholic churches as the way to resolve such divisive issues as inter-church marriages. In the aftermath of spiralling violence which included "Bloody Sunday" (30th January 1972) and "Bloody Friday" (21st July 1972), the bishop lamented:

The tragedy of all this is that there has developed a hatred and distrust, even among moderate minded men and women on all sides. What can the Church do but reiterate that hatred is an offence to love, that we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who spitefully use us.

Despite at the destruction and carnage, Cuthbert Peacocke never lost hope. In the midst of terrible tragedy the bishop nevertheless recognized those who exhibited great restraint as well as those who were "giving great service in reconciliation and promoting harmony". In particular, he deeply welcomed the various peace movements which had emerged in the early 1970s and had taken great heart from the tenacity of the business community in Londonderry who refused to be bombed out of business. He was also keenly aware of the sacrifice which the security forces had made an paid tribute to their courage, impartiality and restraint. Hope for the future was given a momentary boost when a significant number of Northern Irish politicians became involved in the power sharing experiment of 1974. However, search for a successful solution to the province's constitutional problem proved illusory. Many Protestants wear fearful of a "sell-out" which would leave their position as part of the United Kingdom uncertain. The more militant members of this community took to the streets to voice their opposition to a devolved government (The Northern Ireland Executive) composed of the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Ulster Unionists loyal to Brian Faulkner. This resistance took on a more coherent form with the Ulster Workers' Council Strike (15th-28th May 1974) bringing the provinces services to a standstill and ultimately leading to the collapse of the Executive. 

The success of the strike was due in part to a high degree of intimidation by the Ulster Defence Association whose check points were an ubiquitous sight on may of Ulster's streets and roads. It was during this "bewildering year" as the bishop had termed it that he himself was stopped by a UDA activist manning just such a checkpoint. As the activist peered inside the bishop's car he suddenly recognized the well known driver and exclaimed "O God". "Not quite" was the bishop's reply.

It was during Peacocke's episcopate that new responsibilities were given to the laity with the institution of Parish Readers. The amalgamation of parishes, the problems of clerical illness and holiday duty and the number of services themselves provided raison d'etre for introducing parish readers to assist the clergy and in their absence to read Morning and Evening Prayer in their own parish. The laity was also give a part to play in the re-organized rural deaneries which provided a forum for the exchange of views and dissemination of information. The church was also occupied with debate on liturgical reform. Peacocke took a broad and accepting view:

We are a conservative people, and yet we must remember that spiritual life is never static and we should be prepared to follow where the Holy Spirit is leading us to wider vision and deeper spiritual truths and not condemn outright all such attempts"

In 1972 a new Holy Communion service was authorized which the bishop hoped  would be widely used. On the social front, the bishop was also aware of various youth problems affecting society such as a lack of discipline and respect for authority and the widespread abuse of drugs and alcohol amongst the young. Again the bishop pointed to the familiar problem of inadequate clergy stiepends which were now badly affected by rapid inflation and foresaw more cutbacks in church's resources.

On announcing his retirement in January 1975, Bishop Peacocke said of his episcopate:

I have never regarded myself as anything more than a nightwatchman

Cumber Upper, Alla, Claudy

The name Cumber comes from the Irish, com, together, and boir, water, so the name suggests the meeting place of two waters, the Rivers Glenradle and Faughan, in the vicinity of the village of Claudy, some thirteen kilometres east of Londonderry, just to the south of the main Belfast road. According to tradition, St. Patrick founded a church in the area. In 1622, the church was ruinous. It was in reasonable condition by 1693, and was rebuilt in 1757. The parish was divided into Cumber Upper and Lower in 1798.

Cumber Upper Church at Alla, two kilometres south of Claudy, was built in 1860. It is a three bay hall with a north aisle. The lean-to and gabled porch is in the south wall, and the tower is in the corner of the south and west walls. The copper spire was erected in 1960. Inside the porch there are stairs into the gallery, below which are the vestry rooms. These rooms, as well as the public address system and the rose window in the west wall, were donated by the Robinson family in memory of John and Annabella Robinson, 1995. There is another vestry room at the east end of the aisle. In the porch, the window commemorates Robert McFaul, a constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary who died in 1984, and there is a plaque in memory of George and Jane McFaul.

There is a window of three lights and diamond glass in the west wall, with a rose window above. The first window illustrates Christ, the Light of the World, standing at the door and knocking, and is in memory of Samuel and Eileen Eakin, 1991. The second window has diamond opaque glass, with an inset illustrating the text, "and a little child shall lead them". It commemorates Kathryn Alexandra Eakin, ages eight years, who was killed in a bomb blast in Claudy in 1972. The window in the west ailse wall came from St. Nicholas' Church, Castlerickard in the Diocese of Meath, which was closed. It illustrates the text, "It is I, be not afraid", in memory of Richard Vernon Kellet. It was installed in the church in memory of James Whiteside, James McFaul, and Samuel Craig, 1979.

The baptistry is in the north aisle. The window in it shows Jesus welcoming the little children, and it is in memory of Paul Robinson, aged two years, 1964. The middle window in the aisle shows the raising of Lazerus, and it is in memory of John Robinson who died in 1964. The third window was installed in 1994, it shows on the left the text, "peace, be still", in memory of Joseph and Annie Haire, and on the right, Jesus giving a blessing, in memory of Annie Bonner who died in 1971.

There are three window in the sanctuary, which has three sides. The first window has, Ave Maria, gratia plena, Hail Mary full of Grace, the second has, Ego sum Pastor Bonus, I am the Good Shepherd, and the third has, et Verbum caro factum est, and the Word became flesh. The windows are in memory of Mary, wife of Charles Robinson, and daughter of Canon John Beckett, Rector 1905-1943.

The altar, the reredos and credence table were presented by Claude Braddel in memory of his wife Eileen, 1959. In the chancel, the prayer desk on the right was given in memory of Robert and Jayne Forsythe, 1959, and the prayer desk on the left, in memory of Edith Leslie, 1990. The pulpit on the left of the nave was erected by Ernest Browne and Constance Browne in memory of the Browne Family of Cumber House, 1938. There is a brass eagle lectern. A new organ was installed in the aisle, 1999. The detached console of two manuals and pedals is to the right of the nave.

A brass monument on the south wall commemorates Flight Sgt William Harkness, RAF, who was killed in 1943, and a memorial records the life of the Rev. Thomas Lindesay, Prebendary of Cumber, 1847-1860. On the north aisle wall, there is a memorial to Canon John Beckett who died in 1949, and to his wife Violet who died in 1942. It was presented by their daughter, Dorothea Harvey in the church's centenary year, 1960.

Ardstraw, Newtownstewart, St. Eugene

The Parish of Ardstraw at Newtownstewart in County Tyrone has very ancient roots. In the north-west, the territory of Cinel Eoghain in Inishowen and Tyrone, was Ard Stratha, which means, "the height of the bank", or "strand". It gained prestige because of its associations with St. Eugene who founded the Diocese of Ardstraw about 540. It remained the seat of a monastic bishop until about 1150 when Bishop Maurice O'Coffey transferred the See to his native Rath Luairg, (Maghera).

The chief planter family in the 17th century were the Stewarts who gave their name to the village. In 1622, the church was in ruins. However, it was in good repair in 1693. 

The present church was built in 1724, according ti a date stone below the east window. It stands at the top of Newtownstewart's main street, overlooking the town. It is approached up steps through an 18th century gateway. There is a louvered tower which is surmounted by a spire and finals. The spire was erected in 1806. There are lean-to-porches on each side. There is a font in the porch, and a stair to the gallery.

The interior of the church was altered in 1858 and 1867, and the chancel was re-ordered in 1909. Over the west end of the nave is the gallery,

which contains a two manual Conacher organ with pedals. This was presented by Thomas Noble Mitter, a friend of the American philanthropist and patron of Music,

Andrew Carnegie of Pittsburgh, USA, in 1907. A space adjacent to the north wall of the nave is used for daily services.

The pulpit is on the left of the chancel, and there is a prayer desk on each side. The sanctuary is raised above the chancel, and there are vestry rooms on each side.

There are three round-headed windows in the south wall, and two in the north wall. The first window in the south wall under the gallery, has clear, square glass. The second window has coloured glass, and commemorates Fanny Fulton, 1905.

The third window has coloured glass, and the text, "the memory of the just is blessed". It is in memory of George Bates who died in 1890.

In the north wall, the first window, which was erected in 1979, depicts the Good Shepherd, and is in memory of Mary Tipping who died in 1975.

The second window commemorates Peter Scott Martin, aged fourteen years, who died in 1952. It depicts the  text, "Blessed are the pure in heart".

On the still, a plaque commemorates his parents, Commander Ralph Martin, DSC, RN, and Doreen Martin. The east window has three lights and tracery. It depicts the Ascension,

and commemorates the Rev. James McIvor, Rector of Ardstraw, 1847-1886. Dr. McIvor was a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and Professor of Moral Philosophy.

Ardstraw church has some fine classical monuments. In the porch, two plaques record the covering of the stairway in memory of Thomas and Mary Ann Clarke, and the installation of the sound system in memory of Tommy and Jennie Doonan, 1998. There is also a plaque with a list of benefactors. The memorials to those who fell in the two World Wars are on the west wall on either side of the entrance.

On the north wall, there is a memorial to John Fowler who died in 1907, as well as a classical monument to Major Jones Crawford who died in 1839,

and a memorial to John McKeown who died in 1917.

Several monuments in the church commemorate distinguished academic clergy who were Rectors of Ardstraw in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They held professorships or other senior positions in the University of Dublin along with the incumbency of Ardstraw. This was possible, as the patronage of the parish was held by Trinity College, Dublin until the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1870.

The Rev. Thomas Wilson, DD, Rector of Ardstraw, 1786-1799, is commemorated on the north wall. Dr Wilson was Professor of Natural Philosophy and Archbishop King's Professor of Divinity in the University of Dublin. 

There is also a monument to the Rt. Rev. George Hall, DD, Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Rector of Ardstraw, 1800-1806.

He was elected Bishop of Dromore, and was consecrated on 17th November 1811. He died six days later on the 23rd November 1811. He was Professor of Greek, Archbishop King's Lecturer in Divinity, Professor of Modern History, and Professor of Mathematics at various stages of his career in Trinity College, Dublin.

On the south wall, beside the prayer desk, a monument commemorates Sir I.A Montgomerie, Kt.,

son of Viscount Montgomerie, and Katharina Lady Montgomerie, who died in 1634.

  There is a monument to the Rev. Richard Nash, DD,FTCD, Rector of Ardstraw, 1819 until his death in 1847, as well as a monument to the Rev. John Hall, DD, Rector of Raymochy (Manorcunningham, Co. Donegal), and Ardstaw, 1713-1735. He was Vice-Provost and Librarian of Trinity College. On the same wall, Lt. Frederick Fitzgerald who died in 1817.

His father, the Rev. Gerald Fitzgerald, DD, Rector 1806-1819. He too, was a Vice Provost of Trinity College.

Other Features of the church.

1. Brass Eagle Lectern

2. Beautifully carved Altar and Reredos.

3. Tiled Mosaic floor in the Sanctuary.

4. Table used beside the north wall for Baptisms. (Removable Font)

5. Photographs of past Rectors in the entrance porch.