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Pictured: Dean Stephen Forde and Christian Aid Ireland CEO Rosamond Bennett with Archbishop John McDowell; the Rt Revd Dr Trevor Gribben (Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland); the Revd Alan Wardlow (President of the Methodist Church in Ireland) and Mrs Elaine Barnett (Lay Leader of the Methodist Church in Ireland).

Eight decades of generosity, prayer, advocacy and humanitarian response were celebrated on Friday evening (20th June) at Belfast Cathedral at a special service of thanksgiving to mark Christian Aid Ireland turning 80.  The service was held to commemorate World Refugee Day, reflecting Christian Aid’s foundation in 1945 to respond to the plight of refugees in Europe at the end of the Second World War.

Guests included the Church of Ireland’s Primate, Archbishop John McDowell; the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Moderator, the Rt Revd Dr Trevor Gribben; the Methodist Church in Ireland’s President and Lay Leader, the Revd Alan Wardlow and Mrs Elaine Barnett; Junior Minister in the Executive Office, Pam Cameron MLA; the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly; and Dr Howard Hastings OBE DL, representing the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast.

Christian Aid’s work tackles both the symptoms and root causes of poverty around the world, enabled by its partners, volunteers, staff, member churches, and local congregations and parishes.  The service focused on the challenges ahead and recommitted Christian Aid to striving for a world free from the scandal of poverty.  Contributions included reflections from Christian Aid’s history, and music from Renaissance Choir and Intercultural Worship Ireland.

Bishop Trevor Williams, who was formerly Chair of Christian Aid Ireland, preached on how eternal values enable us to live well together by loving God “with all our heart, soul and mind and our neighbours as ourselves … and, remember, Jesus showed us in the parable of the Good Samaritan that neighbourliness is caring for those in need.”

He added: “How many times have you said: ‘When I listen to the news, I feel so helpless, the suffering is so awful and there is nothing I can do about it?” I have good news for you, this is precisely why Christian Aid exists.”

Bishop Williams recalled a visit to Mali, in West Africa, during his time as a Christian Aid trustee, in which he visited a village where a large reservoir had been built by local people to irrigate a market garden and provide a reliable and healthy food supply for the community.  However, out of all of the progress made, the villagers concluded that the greatest achievement was peace – the resolution of a tense dispute over leadership in the village, settled with the help of the Christian Aid partner agency; this, in turn, enabled all the other life-changing development work to take place.

“Thank God for Christian Aid,” he remarked in conclusion.  “For its 80 years of seeking to be an agency of God’s loving concern for the world.  For its way of working respecting the dignity, intelligence and integrity of those they work with, and for its commitment to the Churches, to enable us to play our part in being agents of God’s loving concern for all of God’s creation.”

Christian Aid Ireland Chief Executive Rosamond Bennett said that the service was an opportunity to celebrate 80 years of global impact, and to thank the supporters, partners and staff who had made it possible.

She added: “Since 1945, Christian Aid has brought hope to people living in poverty and crisis around the world. Yet our anniversary is also a reminder that our task is incomplete. Conflict, the climate crisis, and inequality for women and girls mean that poverty continues to scar millions of lives. Today, 80 years after we were founded, we recommit ourselves to continuing our work to create a world in which everyone can have a full life, a life free from poverty, a life before death.”

Christian Aid Ireland is sponsored by the Irish Council of Churches and seven church denominations – the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland, the Moravian Church in Britain and Ireland, the Salvation Army, and the Society of Friends (Quakers).

Supporters and guests gathered afterwards for refreshments and a further opportunity to catch up and chat about their own memories of being involved in Christian Aid.

With thanks to Frank Dillon Photography and to the Church of Ireland Press Office.

A full gallery of photos is available in the Church of Ireland’s online gallery on Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCiJqU