Ballinderry, Northern Ireland - Aug 2026

May and June were very busy months for the church at Ballinderry. The usual activities of Scouts, Bible Study, Tai Chi, Book Club and Community Coffee Morning continued. In addition, volunteers tackled lots of practical work inside and outside the church building: cleaning the inside walls and rejuvenating the porch; erecting a new Moravian Church sign at the village crossroads; digging a new drain and renewing the path in front of the manse. It’s all looking much improved!

The manse renovation project, which started last Autumn, is now almost complete. Following substantial internal building work, a new kitchen and bathrooms have been fitted, tiles and carpets laid and painting nearly finished. As with all old buildings, there have been some minor hitches, but these have been largely solved with expert professional advice and practical help from some volunteer friends of the church.

On the morning of Saturday 6th June, the Irish District Council met in the church building. As well as conducting their business, members were able to appreciate the work done in the church building and the manse. After a hearty lunch, we were privileged to host a concert performed by brass choir players from all over Germany. ‘Moravians on Tour’ accompany worship services and perform at funerals, birthday celebrations and other events. They gave only three concerts in Ireland during their visit, and we were honoured to welcome them to Ballinderry for their second concert. The lively programme of 15 pieces was greatly enjoyed by all. Unfortunately, the weather was wet, so we could not hold the concert outside, but spirits were definitely not dampened, and the afternoon was a huge success.

Srs Marilyn Marshall & Dorothy McMillan