Building Bridges Through Heritage
The Churches Trust continues to make meaningful strides in peacebuilding, interfaith engagement, and cultural heritage through two dynamic initiatives: the Columba Journey Project (CJP) and the Cecil Frances Alexander Celebrated (CFAC) project. Supported by PEACEPLUS, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), and the Benefact Trust, these projects aim to foster cross-community connection, cultural learning, and mutual respect in the Northwest of Ireland.
The Columba Journey Project: Peacebuilding Rooted in Local Story
The CJP centres on the legacy of Columba, the Irish monk who helped shape early Christian Ireland and Scotland. Since August 2024, the project has brought local history to life for young people through accredited OCN programmes, and interactive events.
A highlight was our Columba Conversations Lecture Series, which in February featured Rev Dr Harold Good exploring the role of faith leadership in peacebuilding. Over 40 people attended the event at the Playhouse included Bishop Andrew Forster, Bishop Donal McKeown, Rev David Skuce and others. March saw Ulster University, Magee Campus host the lecture Columba’s Sisters by Prof Maeve Callan, focusing on often-overlooked women of the early Church and how their stories can inform modern understandings of inclusion, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
The ongoing Columba Conversations series has brought historical insight and contemporary relevance into public dialogue. Christy Gillespie captivated an audience at St Columb’s Hall with his deep knowledge of Columba’s legacy in Donegal and Scotland, weaving together archaeology, folklore, and local memory. Dr Brian Lacey shared his deep knowledge of Columba while Rev David Skuce explored how religion has been both a source of conflict and a pathway to peace at a thoughtful evening at St Columb’s Park House.
In April we hosted a Columba walking tour led by Blue Badge guide Michael Cooper, starting at the Columba Heritage Centre and taking in key sites across the city that connect past and present, legend and learning. These events continue to strengthen cross-community engagement and bring Columba’s story into the heart of contemporary conversations about reconciliation.
Young people have taken centre stage in this work. Our Columba Champions programme (for 16+) and Columba Camp (for under 16s) are designed to give young people a platform to explore identity, heritage, and reconciliation. Youth groups from both Catholic and Protestant backgrounds have come together through site visits, story-based learning, and creative workshops.
Cecil Frances Alexander Celebrated: A Hymnwriter for Peace
The CFAC project recently launched at the start of April and celebrates the music and social legacy of Cecil Frances Alexander, author of timeless hymns including All Things Bright and Beautiful. While religious in origin, her hymns emphasise shared values—compassion, care for the vulnerable, and appreciation for the natural world.
Funded by PEACEPLUS and supported through the Benefact Trust, this programme will bring together communities across Derry, Tyrone and Donegal, using Cecil Frances Alexander’s story as a vehicle for interfaith learning and cultural connection. Workshops and site visits will have participants reflecting on how shared cultural figures like Alexander can help heal past divisions.
Crucially, this project frames her work in a wider context—not only as a hymnwriter, but as a social reformer, educator, and advocate particularly for deaf children. Through music, discussion, and community events, CFAC aims to reclaim her legacy as a cross-community figure whose life and lyrics still resonate today.
Interfaith Development: Conversations That Matter
Both projects are unified by a core theme: interfaith dialogue as a cornerstone of reconciliation. Whether revisiting Columba’s peace efforts at Drumceat, or reflecting on how religious traditions have at times been manipulated for division, the emphasis has been on finding shared values—peace, justice, and equality.
We continue to work with a range of churches and community organisations to make space for meaningful conversations about faith and belonging. With public lectures, participants have discussed topics such as:
- The role of religious leaders in rebuilding trust
- Shared faith values and peacebuilding
- Religious traditions as both a source of division and healing
- Inclusion of women’s voices in faith histories
Speakers such as Rev David Skuce, Dr Brian Lacey, and Rev Harold Good have helped frame these discussions.
Looking Ahead
In May, we will take a group on an Inishowen Columba Heritage Tour, connecting the geography of Columba’s early life with conversations about peace and cultural transmission. Further OCN sessions and a Columba Camp for young people are planned throughout the summer.
Please do get in touch to get involved and find out more
We are also working toward a final musical celebration of Cecil Frances Alexander’s work and a Columba Heritage event in 2026, bringing communities together through performance.
Acknowledgements
We are deeply grateful for the generous support of PEACEPLUS, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, and the Benefact Trust, whose investment in cross-community learning, cultural heritage, and interfaith development makes this work possible.
Together, these projects are building a legacy rooted in the past but focused on the future—a more inclusive, peaceful, and connected society.
The Churches Trust
