Garvaghy Parish Church
exhibits recall Great War

The exhibition’s purpose wasnot only mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, but to instil in the young people of the parish the importance of remembering the young men who sat in the same pews, looked out over the same countryside and marched away to war, four of them never to return.

The first thing to greet visiors was a replica WWI trench.

“In fact,” said a spokesperson, “you have to walk along the duckboards through the trench to find a pew.

“The trench is constructed exactly as the trenches were with personal items hanging on the sides.

“There are gas-masks, items of clothing, photos and even a shaving mirror.”

Other displays around the Church included memorabilia and uniforms from both World Wars and other conflicts, poetry and letters from the front and bunting with the names of those who served and returned from the War.

There was a floral display with poppies and four large poppies with a poem remembering the four men who fell, Lance-Corporal David G McKeown (McEwan), Privates William Wallace, William F Vint and David Thomas McKeown.

The Remembrance Sunday morning service saw the church filled to capacity, the Evangelist-in-Charge of Garvaghy and Dromara, Captain Colin Taylor, leading the worship, which included the customary Act of Remembrance; Reveille was sounded by Mr Sammy Skelly and there were other acts of remembrance through worship and poetry.

Following the Service Parishioners and friends had to opportunity to wander around the exhibits .