Hundreds of people from across the Greenisland community turned out last night to hear Rev Isobel Hawthorne-Steele deliver a message of hope just four days after a devastating arson attack on the Church of the Holy Name.
A special service was held in neighbouring Greenisland Baptist Church, where the clergywoman admitted there will still be plenty of sadness to come over the next few years, with many events unable to take place at the place of worship which has been a part of the community for 70 years.
“We’ve all shed tears. I’m sure there will be many more,” she said.
“Heartbreaking as it is, we have to remember that God will not be separated from us.
“There was a little girl, I shall mention her name, Ellen, and in the midst of all the fire engines and police cars flying about she went away and came back with a tub of Angel Delight.
“On the top of it was written ‘Rev Isy I know you’re sad. I hope this makes you better’.
“That was just amazing.
“The support has been amazing from everybody. This church has an emotional tie to everything and everyone in this community. That will never change. It’s sad that over the next few years there are going to be marriages, baptisms, and sadly funerals that we can’t have in our beautiful church.
“I just want to say a big thank you to everybody who has been so generous. All their kindness is going to be much needed and very much appreciated.
“I have lived here since I was seven. I am so privileged to be the leader of a wonderful church, and a church is much more than a building. It’s the people. And there will be a revival.”
The Greenisland community turned out in support of The Church of the Holy Name
Recalling the night of the fire she added: “I was in my pyjamas. My husband Sam said ‘the church is on fire, there’s a bin fire, you’d better get up’.
“I told him to calm down, it was only a bin. But driving Station Road I saw the flames, That’s when it really hit me.
“Like most people, it takes time to get over a shock like that. It was five o’clock and I was able to go down and at that stage the hall has completely burnt to the ground.
“The Chief Fire Officer kindly said he would take me into the church. When I saw the state of it, and I was in there again today, you can imagine the devastation.”
She said she had been particularly thankful for the support from the young people in the congregation, with around 40 of them arriving at her home on Tuesday night to join in prayer.
Last night’s service took place in the nearby Baptist church, with the burnt out Anglican church building visible through the window.
“We are devastated” – Greenisland Church gutted in overnight blaze
Pastor Michael Wylie said Rev Hawthorne-Steele had told him it was to be an uplifting evening.
“She said she didn’t want this to be a funeral,” he said.
“There is an incredibly unity amongst us all. Rev Isy and the congregation will have all our support in the days and months ahead.”
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson was among those turning out to support the church.
“What we have seen is a massive show of support for the congregation and it’s no more than you would expect from this community,” he said.
“All the churches and their communities have come together. That’s the one silver lining that’s come from this. We are all together.
“It’s a very sad occasion, but it’s also one filled with hope.
“Isy has been involved in community work, working with young people in this community, and remains keen to reach out to those who have been responsible for this, despite her sadness and distress.
“What we so know is that this community is together and this church will rebuild.”