NI100: Church leaders defend Armagh centenary service

The service is due to be held in St Patrick's Church of Ireland cathedral in Armagh on 21 October

Church leaders have issued a statement defending the centenary service Irish president Michael D Higgins has decided not to attend.

The service is due to take place in Armagh on 21 October.

Catholic and Protestant church leaders said they had been saddened by "the polarised political commentary" around the service they organised.

President Higgins is not mentioned in the three-page statement issued on Friday.

However, the churches said they understand that some people will feel unable to attend.

The service is timed to coincide with the centenary of the formation of Northern Ireland and the partition of Ireland in 1921. It will be held in St Patrick's Church of Ireland cathedral.

President Higgins said he felt the event was not politically neutral

The British and Irish heads of state, the Queen and President Higgins, were both invited.

It emerged last week that President Higgins had declined because he felt it was not politically neutral.

His decision was criticised by unionists but defended by many nationalists including Sinn Féin and SDLP politicians.

The issue was the subject of debate on both sides of the border on TV, radio and social media.

• Irish president defends turning down centenary event

• Church leaders hope for 'healing' centenary events

• DUP asks Higgins to rethink centenary invite

"The tone of the public debate has shone a light on the societal wounds we wish to reflect on in this service," said the church leaders in their statement.

"We wish primarily to gather in prayer for healing of relationships, and in doing so, to demonstrate a renewed commitment to working together for peace, reconciliation and the common good."

On Friday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said President Higgins' decision not to attend had "set back north-south relations" in Ireland.

"The rejection of this event by the Irish head of state signals to unionists that the presidential office does not respect Northern Ireland as an entity and has little or no interest in a shared future with unionism," Sir Jeffrey said.

"This disrespect for the existence of Northern Ireland indicates that Michael D Higgins' office is really a united Ireland champion rather than a leader of reconciliation."

Although President Higgins announced he will not be attending the service, it is not clear whether an Irish government representative will accept an invitation.

On Wednesday, the Republic's minister for social protection, Heather Humphreys, indicated she would go if invited.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin has said he would consider an invitation, if one was issued.

The Queen is among those who have been invited to the event, pictured here with President Higgins in 2014

The church leaders made it clear the inter-denominational service was not part of the official centenary events organised by the Northern Ireland Office or any other governmental body or organisation.

"As we stated in March, it does not form part of any other programme of events," the statement said.

The church leaders include the head of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rev Dr David Bruce, and the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin.

Earlier, President Michael D Higgins said he had been considering the invitation for about six months, and in the week before St Patrick's Day, had shared his concerns with the organisers of the event.

But on Friday, Presbyterian Church Moderator Rev Dr David Bruce told BBC's Good Morning Ulster that church leaders had not received communication from his office at that time.

"We are not saying that Michael D Higgins, the president, did not raise these issues. We are saying that he didn't raise them with us."

'Positive and honest contribution'

They pointed to a statement they issued at the start of the year saying they hoped that 2021 would bring healing.

Referring to next month's service in Armagh, they said: "We invite as many people as possible to join us in prayer on the day of the service and we hope that it will be a positive and honest contribution, through faith, to peace and healing in this land."

In a statement issued last week, it was entitled "a service of reflection and hope to mark the centenaries of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland".

In this latest statement, the shorter title "service of reflection and hope" is used.

Northern Ireland was formed in May 1921, following the partition of Ireland under the terms of the Government of Ireland Act which was passed at Westminster the previous year.

In December 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed which led to the setting up of the Irish Free State.