The past week has witnessed a rare event in the life of the Irish Methodist Church - the publication of its history. The last time a history of the church was published in English was in 1964. Now the Rev Dudley Levistone Cooney has written The Methodists in Ireland: A Short History, which has been published by Columba Press. It was launched by Dr Raymond Gillespie in Dublin and by Mr Basil McIvor in Belfast.
The history of a church needs to be rewritten about every 40 or 50 years to meet the needs of a rising generation of church members, but at present there is also a widespread interest in the churches, where they came from and what they believe. Books addressed to a popular readership have been written for the Church of Ireland and for the Presbyterian Church.
Mr Levistone Cooney begins his book with a brief account of Methodist doctrine, and the origins of the church in England. He traces its story through the two-and-a-half centuries since it was introduced into Ireland, setting it against the background of national history. He then considers the Methodist contributions to education and issues of social welfare. Finally, he offers a brief overview of the Irish Methodist contribution to the work of the church throughout the world.
Irish Methodist ministers have long been trained at Edgehill College in Belfast, where some years ago a lay training department - the Edgehill Christian Education Centre - was opened. Plans have now been prepared for the redevelopment of the college, retaining the original handsome facade, by constructing new teaching facilities, a library, and a conference centre. There will also be accommodation for the Wesley Historical Society's archive, and the Methodist Resource Centre. Of the total cost of £1.8 million, a sum of £300,000 remains to be raised, and Sunday, June 3rd, will be observed throughout the Methodist churches in the country as a gift day, when contributions will be received from members and friends.
This afternoon the Wesley Historical Society holds its annual pilgrimage, in Derry. Members of the society and their guests will be conducted around historic sites associated with the church by Mr Christopher Wilson.
Tomorrow, the President of the church, the Rev Kenneth Todd, will be preaching at the Glenburn Methodist Church, Belfast, in the morning, and at the Donaghadee Church in the evening.
Also on June 3rd, the Rostrevor Methodists will celebrate the centenary of the building of their church. The building was called Gilcriest Memorial Church in honour of the Rev John Gilcriest, who retired to Warrenpoint in 1890, but continued to work in the area. He gave encouragement to the local Methodists to undertake the building of this charming church. Special services of thanksgiving will be held in the morning and in the evening, and will be addressed by the Rev Edmund Mawhinney, secretary of the conference.
Tomorrow morning, RTE Radio 1 will broadcast on medium wave the morning worship from the Methodist Church in Skerries. The service will be led by the Rev Noel Fallows and Vanessa Wyse-Jackson.