A chara, - I was very sorry to read that Nuala O'Faolain had such a bad time in a Presbyterian Church last Sunday (Opinion, March 2nd). However, as a Presbyterian who attends a church here in Dublin, I would hate to think that a number of assumptions that readers may have formed in the light of her article are the case for all Presbyterians.
It is true that in many churches a "dress code" applies: suits and ties for the men and floral dresses, hats and scarves for the women are the norm in many Presbyterian churches. But not in all. In many others, including my own, you will be accepted and welcomed as you are and for who you are, whatever you wear and whatever your accent is.
Most churches are delighted to receive visitors and it is a privilege and pleasure to have others to worship with. Since I have a Presbyterian mother, Nuala's comment that "I could never be neat enough to be a Presbyterian lady" is a little bit offensive.
It is simply not the case that all Presbyterians are unionist. Now it is true that the vast majority of them may well be, but the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is an all-Ireland church. It should not be political. Of course all too often they are and this is tragic. The sight of a Union Jack flying outside a church, as happens occasionally in the North, is a dreadful one, but there are many Presbyterians who would refuse to worship in a church which is so blatantly sectarian.
There is a very important mistake at the conclusion of her article which is certainly not her fault. The comment made by a member of the church about to a casually dressed woman -"She's like something you'd get in Derryvolgie" - is almost certainly not an anti-Catholic comment. Derryvolgie Avenue contains a hall of residence for Queen's University run and operated by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The man was slagging students, not Catholics.
It is a real pity that Nuala decided to judge my denomination on the strength of one or two visits to particular churches. I hope that she will have better experiences in the future and I can guarantee she would have a warm welcome and feel much more at ease in my church on Adelaide Road. - Is mise,
From Smyth Harper
Packenham House, Patrick Street, Dublin 8.