Bishop to British crown to make rare visit for church reopening

The bishop to the British crown, Rev David Conner, is to pay a rare visit to Ireland today to celebrate the reopening of a Church of Ireland church in Carrigaline, Co Cork which was damaged in a fire last year.

The Dean of Windsor, who has officiated over various royal ceremonies including the queen mother's funeral, accepted an invitation to this evening's ceremony from local minister Rev David Armstrong, with whom he served at Cambridge.

Members of the local Catholic Church hierarchy are also due to attend along with several politicians, led by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin.

A third of the church had been very badly damaged in the accidental fire in March 2003.

"I am thrilled about the Catholic support from people here. They know what my family had to go through before we came here and have been very supportive," said Rev Armstrong, who moved to Co Cork four years ago after suffering the brunt of Protestant bigotry in the North.

He was run out of a previous ministry in Limavady, Co Derry when he tried to build bridges with the Catholic community.

He said he was "touched" that Rev Conner was travelling over for the service.