Saturday, November 03, 2012

Churches unite for new heritage trail

FOUR Londonderry Churches representing the four main Christian denominations in the city are to be united as part of a new Christian Heritage Trail, it has been revealed.

Twelve bronze doves representing peace and Colmcille - ‘the dove of the Church’ and founder of the city - will link the Churches with new public artworks in the St Columb’s Park/Ebrington complex in the Waterside.

The Catholic, Presbyterian, Anglican and Methodist Churches will all be linked through the new trail and each will have a small bronze dove installed outside the buildings.

The Catholic Long Tower, Presbyterian First Derry, Church of Ireland St Augustine’s and Methodist Carlisle Road are all to be linked by the trail.

Bronze and ceramic public art works will also be installed at St Columb’s Park, Ebrington Barracks and the Peace Bridge as part of the trail.

Specific works proposed at Long Tower are a series of ceramic friezes along the graveyard wall, external seating, and the replacement of the existing steps to the main entrance in natural stone with ceramic risers and the installation of a small bronze dove externally.

Works proposed at First Derry are a replacement of the main entrance steps with sandstone treads and ceramic risers, ceramic frieze to external rendered boundary wall (not part of the main church building), external seating with bronze dove and manuscript and the installation of a small bronze dove externally.

Works proposed at St Augustine’s are a ceramic and bronze inset panel, in the ground between the gate pillars at the entrance from the City Walls, a ceramic and bronze to edge side of the path to the main entrance of the church from the city walls, replacement of the church notice boards to include information about the trail and the installation of a small bronze dove externally.

And specific works proposed at Carlisle Road are a ceramic and bronze inset panel to the ground by the upper entrance, a ceramic border along the edge of the building and footpath and the installation of a small bronze dove externally.