Presbyterian Moderator to tour Tyrone

This coming Sunday will see the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), Right Reverend Dr Sam Mawhinney, undertake the first three of his 30 engagements as he begins a weeklong pastoral tour of the PCI’s Presbytery of Omagh. 

 On Sunday morning, accompanied by his wife, Karen, Dr Mawhinney will preach in Second Castlederg Presbyterian Church and First Castlederg, visiting Ardstraw Presbyterian Church in the evening for the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade enrolment service, where he will talk to and pray for the children and young people. With other congregational visits on the agenda, including a mid-week meeting in Clogherney Presbyterian Church.

The Presbytery is one of 19 regional bodies that make up the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, overseeing the local churches in their area. The Presbytery of Omagh takes in the geographical area of west Tyrone, and all of County Fermanagh, and is one of the most widespread presbyteries in PCI. Consisting of 40 congregations, it is largely rural, and takes in the towns of Castlederg, Newtownstewart, Omagh, Fintona, Ballygawley, Irvinestown, Enniskillen, Lisnaskea and Pettigo. A moderator last toured the presbytery in 2019. 

 Speaking about the tour, Dr Mawhinney said, “I am really looking forward to my visit and having the opportunity to visit and encourage the churches and their people located in towns and villages in the west of the province, which are far removed from the denomination’s headquarters in Belfast’s Assembly Buildings. A recent visit to some of our furthest congregations in County Cork, gave me a fresh appreciation for all that our ministers who serve the Lord in rural congregations do, and I whole heartedly commend their dedication and hard work in ministry. 

 “I hope the ministers and congregations in the Presbytery of Omagh will be encouraged by my visit as they are reminded of their belonging to the General Assembly of PCI and that we value them highly. Throughout the visit I hope to have time to spend with ministers, their families and congregations, encouraging them to have “Confidence in Christ,” as they serve their people and communities.” 

 Dr Mawhinney said that he is also ‘very keen’ to see not only what happens on Sunday, but what the church is doing in the community. “It will be a busy week, but I am looking forward to visiting, schools and being part of four assemblies, seeing local businesses, including a farm, PCI’s residential nursing home, Harold McCauley House, and Omagh hospital. There are also a couple of events with young people, and I look forward to engaging with them. As a junior doctor I remember working in the Omagh Hospital and the old Enniskillen Hospital.” 

 The week that Dr Mawhinney is in the Presbytery coincides with Remembrance Sunday. During the tour he will pay his respects at the Omagh Bomb Memorial site and visit Enniskillen on Remembrance Sunday itself.