KILCLUNEY PARISH CHURCH, Co. Armagh.

A most impressive service was held in the Parish Church, on Tuesday evening [July 26, 1921], when His Grace the Lord Primate licenced the Rev. J. Blaney, M.A., to the charge of the parish, and also dedicated a war memorial tablet, erected in the Church, to the memory of the brave men from the parish who gave their lives and services to the King and country in the great war.

The Service opened with the hymn “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,” after which the Ven. the Archdeacon of Armagh, presented the Rev. J. Blaney, to his Grace, and administered the declaration. His Grace then gave his licence, and conducted the newly appointed minister to the prayer-desk.

Shortened evening prayer followed, read by the Rev J. Blaney, the special lesson being read by the Ven. the Archdeacon.

After the singing of the hymn, “Work for the Night is Coming,” the Rev J. Blaney conducted his Grace, who was attended by the Ven. The Archdeacon as chaplain, down the aisle to the memorial tablet. Before the dedication, his Grace read the names recorded on the tablet then offered the dedicatory prayers. The hymn, “For All Thy Saints,” followed, after which his Grace ascended the pulpit and delivered a most helpful and inspiring address, basing his remarks on the words, “Walk, worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” Eph.1 Vr 1.

His Grace dealt with the two-fold nature of their service-the giving of charge to their new minister, and the dedication of the memorial to those brave men from the parish who had responded so nobly to the call of their country. As he read the names of those men he noticed how some families in that parish had given, not one or two, but three and four members to the service of their country. It was indeed a splendid record, and their service and sacrifice should be an inspiration to us to walk worthily of the vocation wherewith we are called.

His Grace then dealt on the duties of minister and people, how they owed a duty to each other, and only by hearty co-operation and sympathy on the part of each other, could the work of any parish be carried on successfully. His Grace said he knew how the people of Kilcluney regretted the removal of the Rev. H. E. Hardy from amongst them. He knew how much Mr Hardy was beloved by them, and also how much they appreciated his good work during the short time he had been in charge of that parish. But the call that came to him was a real call from God, to go to a much larger sphere of work, and being such he felt it was his duty to obey. In concluding, his Grace said he knew the good people of Kilcluney would extend a hearty welcome to their new minister, and expressed the hope that his work amongst them would prove a blessing. The advice he would leave with minister and people was contained in the words of the text, “Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”

The concluding hymn, “Fight the Good Fight,” was sung during the offertory, and the Service ended with the Benediction pronounced by his Grace.

The hymns were very effectively rendered by the choir, under the capable leadership of Miss Lemon, who presided at the harmonium. The service was most impressive, and was followed by the large congregation present.

The memorial tablet, which is of very neat design, consists of brass plate mounted on black marble and surrounded with laurel wreath, and the dates-1914-1918-in bronze. It was executed by the well-known firm of Messrs Purdy and Millard, Belfast.

The inscription and names are as follows: –

“To the glory of God, and the recognition of the men from this parish, who served in the Great War.”

Killed in action: –

Alfred Dougan, Private, R.I. Fus.; William S. Martin, Corporal Highland Light Infantry; William Meighan, Private, Leinster Regiment; John White, Private, R.I. Fus.

Also served; – James Chambers, Private, R.I. Fus.; Jos. Dougan, M.M., Private, R.I. Fus.; William J. Dougan, Sergeant, R.I. Fus.; Fred A. Dougan, Sergeant R.I.R.; David Edgar, Private, Canadian Infantry; James Edgar, Private, Black Watch; John Edgar, Private, R.I. Fus.; James Haire, Private, R.I. Fus.; John Johnston, Private, Highland Light Infantry; William Kirkland, Private, R.M.En.; John Meighan, Private, Canadian Infantry; James Meighan, Private, Canadian Infantry; John Miscampbell, Private, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; Hugh Moore, Lance-Corporal, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; William J. Morrow, U.S. Navy; Joseph M’Cammon, Private, Canadian Infantry; Richard Timmins, Private, R.U.R.; Alex. Williamson, M.M., Private, Canadian Infantry; Edmund Williamson, Sergeant Major, Royal Army Service Corps.

Armagh Standard, August 6, 1921.