The Church of Ireland
Press Release

As you meet to worship Almighty God at the invitation of the Rector and Select Vestry in Drumcree Church I wanted to address these few words to you all.

You have come to this Church as has been your custom over the years to remember the sacrifice of so many Ulstermen at the Battle of the Somme. You have entered into the worship of Almighty God which is the greatest privilege anyone can be offered. The building in which you worship is dedicated to the worship and glory of God and throughout the year is the location for a local congregation to worship week by week.

When this service is over and you leave the Church I do not need to remind you that the eyes of the world will be on you. Pictures of your actions will be portrayed across the world through TV and in each of those pictures the background will be the sight of the parish Church in which you now worship. People across the world will associate all your actions with that picture of the Church in the background. The symbolism of that scene speaks clearly that you are coming from the worship of Almighty God who is the sovereign Lord of us all.

I do not need to remind you that there are those outside who are ready and able to make use of your protest for actions which are divisive, criminal and malicious – and actions which bring shame on the name of this Province, the name of the Orange Institution and indeed the name of Christianity. This danger is real, not imagined, and I know it is not the wish or intention of the ordinary decent members of the Institution that this should happen.

Also I have to remind you again that the Church of Ireland cannot accept, support or condone in any way words or actions which are sectarian or injurious to members of another community. The Church of Ireland is actively involved in building bridges in this community and fostering the highest possible understanding between all traditions.

Over the past year as the officers of your Order know I have spent many hours and days seeking and encouraging an honourable settlement to the problems of which we are all aware. I share the frustration and disappointment across the land that a settlement has not been possible up to now. The search for agreement must go on and on. But I am also deeply aware of the feelings of those who differ from you. They too have their fears and uncertainties. They too have their rights. They too are children of the same God. Somehow under God we have got to find a new way of trusting and respecting each other.

I now appeal to you all to recognize the situation which awaits you and the Province as you leave this service. I ask you in the name of the God you are worshipping to make your protest in a dignified and lawful manner, to respect the things of God and to do nothing nor permit anything to happen which will allow those with evil intent to make use of your protest.

May Almighty God guide all of us at this tense time for our land and may He turn the hearts of those intent on violence to the road of peace.

+ Robert Armagh
Archbishop