Church dedication celebrated

THE Catholic population of Shankill Parish turned out in full force in October 1983 to celebrate the dedication of their first church built 150 years previous.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th Sep 2010, 13:24 BST

Updated 2nd Oct 2010, 13:00 BST

St Peter’s Church in North Street was started in 1829, the year of Daniel O’Connell’s Catholic Emancipation Bill.

The main theme running through the celebratory mass was that the church was a standing testament to the faith of those early parishioners and the parishioners in 1983.

A selection of scouts and guides provided a guard of honour for Bishop of Dromore, Rev Francis Gerard Brooks, as he left the vestry along with the other 25 priests who were con-celebrating the mass.

In his opening address to the packed church, Bishop Brooks recalled the times when the people of Shankill had not got a church.

North Street