The “Cecil Frances Alexander Celebrated” project 2026 explores the remarkable life, writings and enduring influence of one of Ireland’s most beloved hymn writers. 


A Legacy of Faith, Poetry and Shared Heritage

The Cecil Frances Alexander Celebrated Project is a cross-community and cross-border heritage initiative led by the Churches Trust Derry~Londonderry that celebrates the life, legacy, and enduring influence of one of Ireland’s most renowned hymn writers. Supported through the PEACEPLUS Programme, the project explores the remarkable contribution of Cecil Frances Alexander—not only as the author of beloved hymns such as All Things Bright and Beautiful, There Is a Green Hill Far Away, and Once in Royal David’s City, but also as a woman whose commitment to education, social welfare, and community care continues to inspire today. Through a programme developed by Project Coordinator Sinéad Smyth and a Steering Group comprised of community leaders, interested individuals and historical specialists, the project brings her story to life through creative, educational, and cultural activities, while promoting a shared appreciation of our rich cultural heritage.


Building on the Churches Trust’s long-standing commitment to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and community development, the project celebrates Cecil Frances Alexander’s legacy, and her work is used as a platform to encourage dialogue, understanding, and collaboration across diverse communities throughout the Northwest. Workshops, exhibitions, lectures, music, heritage trails, and artistic collaborations invite participants from different faiths, traditions, and backgrounds to explore the shared values reflected in Alexander’s life and work. By connecting history, creativity, and community engagement, the Cecil Frances Alexander Celebrated Project unifies, strengthens cultural identity, fosters mutual respect, and contributes to a more inclusive and connected future for Derry~Londonderry and the wider region.

Through a programme of talks, workshops, performances and heritage experiences, participants have explored Alexander’s connections with places including Strabane, Baronscourt, Fahan and Derry~Londonderry. The project demonstrates how a nineteenth-century woman’s voice can still inspire contemporary conversations about identity, belonging, faith and community. By rediscovering Cecil Frances Alexander’s (CFA’s) story together, participants have found common ground across traditions while celebrating the rich cultural heritage shared across this region. 


Project Elements:

  • Steering Group
  • Each Bird Sings Writing Workshops - Strabane
  • Intergenerational Willow Lantern Making Workshops – Strabane & Killeter
  • Milltown House Preservation Group
  • CFA Mural Development support with St. Columb’s Cathedral and Local Primary Schools Workshops – Derry~Londonderry
  • All Souls Lantern Walk and Walking Tour of places of faith – Strabane Town Centre
  • An Evening with Cecil Frances Alexander at The Old Rectory, Fahan, Co. Donegal.
  • Historical Musical Research and Hymn Commission & Education Pack KS3
  • Celebration Concert ‘Choirs Unite’ – Strabane
  • CFAC ‘Bright & Beautiful’ Heritage Bus Tour – Strabane/Baronscourt/Killeter/Fahan/Derry~Londonderry