Feburary 1929

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY, 1929.

CLERGY:

Rev. Canon Archer, B.D., The Rectory, Seagoe, Portadown.

Rev. W. A. Henry, 21 Edward St., Portadown.

LAY READER (Bishop's Licence):

Mr. Robt. Gracey, 23 Railway Street, Portadown.

CHURCHWARDENS:

Rector's—Robert M'Clements.

People's—John Dermott.

LENT, 1929

Ash Wednesday, the First Day of Lent, falls this year on February 13th. Lent is one of the two great Mission seasons of the Christian year, the other being the season of Advent. It leads up to those great Days of Remembrance, one full of suffering, and the other replete with joy, Good Friday and Easter Day. Lent is essentially the season of Discipline and Self-examination. When searching our own hearts and lives we realise our own besetting sins and pray for grace to overcome them. It is marked in a very special way in our Church Services. The Collects, Psalms, Hymns and Lessons all speak to us of the darkness of Sin and the need of Repentance. Many special Services will be held through the Parish and in the Parish Church during Lent, and we invite our people to avail themselves of these opportunities of worship.

On Ash Wednesday, February 13th, Services will be held in the Parish Church as follows:—

11:30 a.m.—Morning Prayer and penitential Service.

8 p.m.—Evening Prayer and Sermon.

On the First Sunday in Lent, Feb. 17th, Sermons will be preached at Morning and Evening Prayer on the subject of "Temperance." The collection at Morning Prayer will be on behalf of the Diocesan Temperance Society and the Ulster Temperance Alliance. Strong drink is still a great enemy in our midst and still claims some of our best as its victims. Almost all the poverty and much of the ill-health of the community can still be traced to its ravages. Our efforts to stem its course must not be relaxed.

Special Lent Services

During Lent the following Services have been arranged:—

The Services which have been held on each Wednesday in the Parochial Hall, Edenderry, at 8 p.m., will be continued during Lent. A special Service will be held on each Thursday in the Parish Church at 8 p.m., beginning on Thursday, Feb. 20th.

NO Service will be held in the Parochial Hall on Ash Wednesday.

C. L.B. Parade Services

On Sunday, February 3rd, two Parade Services will (D.V.) be held in the Parish Church. At the 11:30 a.m. Service our Seagoe Company of C.L.B. will be present and the Pipers Band of the St. Michael's, Belfast, Company of C.L.B. are most kindly coming to join in the Parade. Special places will be reserved for the combined Brigade Companies.

At 3:30 p.m, a special Parade Service will be held. It will be attended by our Seagoe C.L.B. and also by the St.Michael's, Belfast, Company of C.L.B., and by St. Mark's, Portadown, Company of the Boys' Brigade. The combined companies will march to the Church for the Service. The Rev. F. J. Halahan, M.C. (with Bar), Hon. Chaplain to the Forces, and Rector of Drumcree, will be the special preacher. The collection at the Afternoon Service will be on behalf of our Seagoe C.L.B. Camp Fund. Mr. T. H. Wilson, Organist of Seagoe, is arranging special music for the Service. At Evening Prayer, 7 p.m., special reference will be made to "The Claim of the Church on the Youth of our Country."

Prize Distributions

The following provisional arrangements have been made for our prize distributions in con-nection with the Sunday Schools.

Drumgor—Monday, Feb. 4th, at 7:30 p.m.

Levaghery---Thursday, Feb. 7 ^th, at 7:30 p.m.

Hacknahay—Friday, Feb. 8th, at 6:30 p.m.

Carne---Monday. Feb. 11th, at 7:30 p.m.

Edenderry—Tuesday Feb.12th, at 7:30 p.m.

It will not be possible to get Hymn Books and Prayer Books this year as the new books are not yet

on sale. Prizes will be confined to Bibles and story books.

The "Flu."

A serious outbreak of influenza has occurred within the past three weeks. It is a world out-break and practically all countries have experienced it. Fortunately, the illness is of a comparatively mild type, but in the case of old people it has proved very fatal. The long list of deaths in each day's newspapers is an evidence of its ravages. Children and old people have suffered most, and in Bel-fast, Lisburn and Portadown, the schools are closed. Influenza is a mysterious visitant. In a highly technical medical work, based on Government statistics of the outbreak of 1918 and recently pub-lished, the statement is made that in every case of its occurrence as an epidemic, its origin has been traced to the "great silent spaces" in Asia, Arabia and Siberia.

Seagoe P.E. School has been closed from Monday, January 28th, to Monday, February 4th.

American Tea

The American Tea held in Seagoe School on Thursday, January 24th, proved a great success. The spacious rooms had been transformed into reception rooms. Pretty decorations lent bright colouring to the school. Tea was laid at separate tables and was much enjoyed by all present. Each visitor had brought a gift, and a broad counter which ran across the end of the room was soon filled with a great variety of valuable commodities. After tea, buying and selling began, and before long practically everything had been sold. A programme of music followed, in which the following took part—Miss Wilson, Mrs. Scott, Miss Bateman, Miss M. Twinem, Mr. Albert Wilson, Mr. Richard Robb and Mr. David Murray. Mr. R. Robb had very kindly arranged the programme. A !arge number of ladies kindly assisted at the tea tables. At the close of the evening, Mr. R. Gracey ob-tained willing bidders for any goods that remained over, with the result that everything was sold. The promoters of the tea are to be congratulated on the success of their efforts, which will result in substantial help towards the upkeep and repair of our School buildings.

Seagoe Mothers' Union

The Mothers' Union will meet (D.V.) in Seagoe School on Tuesday, February 13th (Shrove Tuesday), at 7:30 p.m. We are glad to be able to announce that Mrs. Henry, of Clones, will be able to be with us again and will give an address to the members. Tea will be provided for all who attend.

On Tuesday, January 8th, the Mothers' Union held their annual social in Seagoe School. The attendance was very large and the members of the newly-formed C.L.B. were invited as guests. It was a most enjoyable occasion and the old people and the young took part in all the amusements. Seldom has such a happy gathering assembled in Seagoe School. Mr. James Twinem and Mr. Dermott, among others, contributed songs which were much appreciated.

The Mothers' Union has most generously given through its President and Hon. Secretary, Mrs. John Reid, gifts of £2 to each of our six Sunday Schools to help towards the providing of prizes and entertainments for the children. This is a very kind and thoughtful action on the part of the Mothers' Union, for which we thank them very sincerely.

ITEMS

Miss Margaret Gracey, of Balteagh. has been awarded her Diploma as a teacher under the Ministry of Education, after two years' service.

A Conference assembled in Dublin last week to consider the claims of the Church on the youth of our land. It was largely attended and proved very successful.

Work at the new sewage tanks at Seagoe began last week. The construction of concrete sewage pipes under the Portadown Main Drainage scheme is about to begin in the field at Seagoe Turns. Last week the unsightly ruins of the two cottages at Seagoe Turns were cleared away.

“Changing Seagoe” will take on a fresh meaning when the Main Drainage scheme begins to materialise. Digging, building and clearing will transform our neighbourhood. The Main Drainage scheme was a very necessary measure for the improvement of the health of the town of Portadown and will provide much work for the unemployed.

We congratulate Mr. William Hall, of Seagoe G.N.R. cabin on his pluck and resource in averting what might have been a very serious accident at Seagoe Crossing on Monday, January 14. A runaway horse and cart broke through the closed gates just as a train was approaching from Portadown. Man, horse and cart were on the line and the engine was within about 200 yards of them. By blocking the near signal and running with a lamp towards the engine, Mr. Hall succeeded in stopping the train just in time. It was dark at the time, which greatly added to the difficulty and danger of the situation.

Parish Register for January.

Baptisms

The following were baptized in Seagoe Parish Church on 5th January, 1929:

Carvill—Joseph Frederick, son of Valentine and Sarah Carvill, of Killicomaine. Sponsors—Amelia Carvill, Sarah Carvill.

M'Minn—Frederick, son of Robert and Elizabeth M'Minn, of Kernan. Sponsors—Eva Neill, Elizabeth M'Minn.

Irwin—Thomas George, son of William James and Sarah Jane Irwin, of Killicomaine.

Sponsors—Sarah Conlon, Sarah Jane Irwin.

Maxwell—Richard, son of Richard and Martha Maxwell, of Balteagh. Sponsors—Ellen Jane Maxwell, Martha Maxwell.

Marriage.

Pearce and Davis—28th January, 1929, after Banns, Robert Harold Pearce, of the Parish of Ballysillan, Belfast, and Dorothy Davis, of Edenderry.

Burials,

Gracey—-January 23rd. Margaret Bell Gracey, of Balteagh, aged 78 years. Interred in Old Shankill Graveyard.

M'Knight—January 24th, Rachel M'Knight, of Drumnacanvey. Interred at Knockna-muckley.

M'AIIister—January 28th, Mary M'Allister, of Drumnacanvey, aged 73 years. Interred at Loughbrickland.

M'Cormick—January 30th, Mary Jane M'Cormick, of Kernan.

Medlow—January 31st, Elizabeth Medlow, of Kernan.

Seagoe P.E. School

Seagoe P.E. School entered on a new chapter in its long history on Thursday, January 10th, when Mr. Robert Scott, our new Principal, took up his duties there. The interregnum, between the departure of Mr. Rennix on October 31st, to the arrival of Mr. Scott, was a difficult and trying time for the School. But now everything has settled down into its place and we anticipate a very pros-perous future for the School.

Concert in Edenderry

A most enjoyable concert was given in Edenderry Parochial Hall on Tuesday, January 22nd. There was a crowded attendance and an excellent programme was provided. One of the great attractions was the presence of the famous Parkmount Flute Band, who discoursed excellent music during the evening. Another interesting item was a display of gymnastics and club swinging, kindly given by members of the St. Mark's Company of the Boys' Brigade. The Edenderry children, care-fully trained by Miss Hawthorne, delighted the audience with their fairy songs. They sang with splendid expression the famous song “Caller Herrin.” A most amusing 'Bus sketch concluded the programme, in which Policeman Isaac Clayton excelled himself. Among others who kindly contri-buted to the programme were—Miss Sadie Martin, Miss Susan, Miss Olive and Miss Ellie Tweedie, Mr. Robert M'Clements and Mr. Norman Jeffers. Altogether the concert was a great success and reflects the greatest credit on the Misses Hawthorne, who spared no effort to make it a success. The proceeds go towards the Edenderry Sunday School Prize Fund.

Old Seagoe Notes

The Rock Foundation of Seagoe—The geology of Seagoe is an interesting and important subject of study. In a very real sense Seagoe is founded upon a rock. It is the great mass of rock which underlies the townlands of Bocombra and Killicomaine, and which is quarried on a very extensive scale. The rock exposed in these quarries is a species of fine limestone known to geolo-gists as Diorite. It is sometimes called Greenstone. It is composed of Hornblende and Felspar. The Felspar in its composition is known as Triclinic. Geologically Seagoe may be said to rest on a threefold foundation, roughly divided by the present Lurgan Road. On its higher southern side the rock is Diorite. At Kilvergan, on its eastern side, the rock is the Chalk or White Limestone, and along the valley of the Bann there is a deep deposit of Boulder Clay, that is, heavy clay in which large round Boulder stones, oftentimes ice-scratched and waterworn, abound.

The Renovation of Seagoe Church in 1891

[We reprint here the interesting circular issued by the late Dean Dawson in 1891 on the occasion of the renovation of the Parish Church. The people of Seagoe are justly proud of their beautiful Church, and the particulars here given regarding its architecture and proportions by no less an authority than Mr. (afterwards Sir Thomas) Drew, the greatest of Irish architects, who had charge of the renovation, will be read with interest.]

The Parish of Seagoe derives its name from the early Irish saint Gobha, or Gobanus, who died A.D. 639. He is said by Colgan to have lived at the bank of the Bann, at Teg-da-Goba, or "the house of Goba"; which, through the form Suidhe-Goba, " the seat of Goba," has been long known as Seagoe. Gobanus, it is probable, had his cell or oratory on the mound or fort which ever since his day appears to have been dedicated to the worship of God, and where the ruins of the old church of Seagoe are still standing.

Tradition records that the first church erected on this site was formed of studs, or rude posts, interlaced with hay ropes, and covered with yellow clay. Towards the end of Elizabeth's reign, the English settlers who accompanied Essex here built a church, which was destroyed after a few years. No doubt it is this building which is shown on the Plantation map of 1609, standing here roofless, with a few trees about it. Again the English colonists repaired or rebuilt the church, which was once more ruined in 1641.

Soon after the Restoration, in 1660, the church was again rebuilt, through the exertions of Valentine Blacker, an ancestor of the Carrickblacker, family. The church was enlarged by the addi-tion of a northern transept in 1755. Ninety years ago, as described, it was a long low building, having a small southern porch, a belfry on the west gable, and roofed with oak shingles.

When a new church became necessary, it was found impossible to build the larger edifice required upon the old site—hallowed by its religious use for centuries—because the graves had been permitted to encroach upon the southern and western sides of the church, so that the earth was raised several feet above the floor. The new building, the present church, was, therefore, erected on another site in the adjoining townland. The first stone was laid on June 1, 1814, and it was com-pleted and opened for worship in 1816. Though larger and having a western tower, it was otherwise hardly more ornate than the quaint old building it superseded. It was an oblong structure, 70 feet by 30 feet, without a chancel, and with a flat plaster ceiling, and a gallery which, by repeated additions, projected over nearly one half the nave. In seventy-four years the only important improvements in its structure and arrangements have been the substitution of open seats for the square pews, and the tiling of the nave. These were effected by the late Archdeacon Saurin in 1862; by whom, also, a new Bell was provided in 1860.

For some years past there has been a growing desire to make this church, if possible, more worthy of the house of God, of the immemorial Christian associations appertaining to the parish, and of its large Church population, numbering 3,600 persons. The matter was at length entrusted to the eminent architect, Mr. Thomas Drew, R.H.A. and we are indebted to his genius for the trans-formation of an almost hopeless interior into one of remarkable and chaste beauty. Mr. Drew's plans provide a chancel proportionate to the dimensions of the church, and including a new vestry-room and an organ chamber; an open timbered nave roof, in the place of the flat ceiling; a southern aisle; new windows; the conversion of the present vestry into a porch; the removal of the gallery, etc.

The following architectural notes by Mr. Drew supply a graphic description of these ela-borate improvements:—

“The Parish Church of Seagoe, built in 1814 to take the place of an older one, was not of an architectural character. It was simply in the manner of that day—an ugly, plain, four-square room of large dimensions, 70 ft. long by 30½ ft. wide, and having a flat ceiling concealing an ordinary roof of low pitch; and it has a gallery of the usual plain and unsightly sort. A more unpromising building to be recast into architectural form, according to more modern standard of taste, could not well be conceived. It was too short, too wide, and too low in its proportions, and there was not even suffic-ient room at the east-end to lengthen it by extending a chancel. With generous expenditure, how-ever, much is possible; and it is somewhat satisfactory that the substantial old church, built with much courage and churchmanlike spirit in a depressing time, seventy-six years ago, and which has known three generations of worshippers, is not to be entirely done away with. Seagoe Church will best illustrate forcibly the advance that has been made from 1814 to 1890, in good architecture, in wealth, and the facilities for its production; in the better ordering of Church services, and the latter-day feeling among Churchmen that in the adornment and furnishing of the house of God, and thoughtful care for the decency and convenience or worship, even the best that can be offered, is but unworthy,

“The first care in the improved church has been to provide a worthy chancel. It has been devised by extending its eastern wall as far as the churchyard boundary would permit, and by taking some length from the nave. The plans provide thus for a well-proportioned chancel, 25ft. long by 17½ ft. wide, opening to the nave with a lofty chancel-arch, and on the north and south sides with like arches to the organ chamber and vestry, and a lateral aisle respectively. The chancel is a mem-orial, and the last-named feature, while it gives additional seating room, would be specially suitable as a kind of chantry for monuments or memorials of the founders.

“The parishioners' addition to the church consists of a southern aisle, 37½ ft. long by 21 ft. wide, and giving 200 additional seats. It opens into the nave with three lofty pointed arches, and gives additional architectural character and interest to the heretofore four-square building. There remains the nave of the somewhat unusual proportion of 65 ft. of length to 30½ ft. in breadth to be brought into architectural character, with a low-pitched roof, which it would not be desirable to raise higher. It was at first proposed merely to remove the ceiling and case up the old roof and make it as fairly presentable as possible. By the additional generosity of the Baroness Von Stieglitz, however, a new roof, and a handsome one, is found; and the architect has met the difficulties of proportions by adopting a treatment in the manner of 15th century architecture, which lends itself to lower-pitched roofs and wider spans. The roofs of the nave, aisle, and chancel are accordingly of a design not usual in other churches in the diocese—a four-centred arched framing, springing from hammer-beams, and all richly moulded and peculiarly massive, and bearing the character of old examples of the 15th century English roofs, They will be of pitch pine, left untouched after the carpenter's tools, without varnishing, it being found that pitch pine treated in this way assumes

in time an appearance as pleasing as that of old oak.

“The old vestry, on the north side, becomes a spacious and imposing porch, encased and adorned with cutstone dressings, buttresses, and pinnacles. The windows of the new additions, as well as the old openings in the nave, will be large and handsome traceried stone windows, designed in the same consistent 'perpendicular' style as the rest of the work, and specially adapted for effect-ive filling with stained glass at a future day. The new seats will, of course, be open, and of the best kind according to modern ideas for convenience of worshipping. Dumfries red sandstone is used for the windows and other portions of wrought stonework externally, and Bath stone for the interior.”

The contract for the execution of these works was concluded with Meessrs. Collen Bros. of Portadown, for £2,832. Further expenditure will be incurred for the Heating, Lighting of the Church, etc.

Subscriptions have been received, or promised, to the amount of £2,544 12s 7d. These include £1,400, the munificent subscription of the Baroness Von Stieglitz, Carrickblacker; two grants of £200 each from the Beresford Fund, through the kindness of the Lord Primate; and a grant of £50 from the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge (London). A generous friend has also presented a Memorial Pulpit in Carved Oak; and others have given a Stained Glass Window, Chancel Furniture, etc.

The foundation-stone of the new Chancel was laid on April 11, 1890, by the Baroness Von Stieglitz, in the presence of the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, and a large number of clergy, the parishioners and friends.

The Service for the Re-Opening of the Church and the Consecration of the Chancel and Aisle will be held (God willing) at 3 o'clock p.m., on Friday, 7th August next. The Sermon on the occasion will be preached by the Very Reverend The Dean of Connor. Services will be held also on the following Sunday (August 9th), at which the Sermons will be preached by the Rev. Thos. J. Welland, D.D., Rector of St. Thomas', Belfast; and also on Sunday, 16th August, when the Sermons will be preached by the Rev. R. R. Kane, LL.D., Rector of Christ Church, Belfast. Collections will be made at all these Services in aid of the Building Fund.

ABRAHAM DAWSON, Rector. Seagoe Rectory, Portadown, July, 1891.