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document.write("Some Parish History<\/a>
Our Parish History <\/span><\/h3>
<\/span><\/div>Our story begins with Lurach. He was a convert to Christianity. Although he was of noble birth, he renounced his wealth and became a monk. He established several monasteries, one in the foothills of the Sperrins. From that monastery, surrounded by the trees, we were taught the Faith we have kept to this very day. That was 1500 years ago. <\/span><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>To this day, we are grateful to have inherited the noble tradition of loyalty to God and to neighbour. Deep-rooted faith and devotedness to care have made our parish a source of strength in the past and a place of hope for the future. <\/span><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>Many vocations have been birthed here. Men and women have brought the good news of a Faith that was cradled in our parish to the very ends of the earth. Vocations to the priesthood and the religious life were the generous gift of the people in the past. Our prayer today is for the emergence of a new springtime for the future. Prayer has been the deep-seated expression of the people\'s faith. <\/span><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>Prayer is still the keystone of our hope. We appreciate the gift of Faith and as a parish share in the privilege of handing it on to another generation. That is what unites us with Lurach. He brought us the Good News at the beginning of the sixth century. As we begin the twenty-first, we, too, must keep the flame of faith alive in our hearts, as our gift to another generation. <\/span><\/div>
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Parochial House <\/span><\/h3>
Monsignor Bernard McGurk was appointed Parish Priest of Maghera in 1907. From that time until he died in 1923, he built the Parochial House, renovated St.Patrick’s Church, built the National Hall in Maghera and repaired the schools. <\/span><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>He established the St.Vincent de Paul Society in 1908. He was a man of great energy and love for his people. His gravestone carries the tribute of his people “He lived a holy and priestly life”. <\/span><\/div>
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Famine Plot <\/span><\/h3>
<\/span><\/div>The Great Famine in Ireland took place between the years 1845-1849<\/span><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>Thousands of people died during the Famine Years, some in our own parish.The Famine Plot is where most of them were buried <\/span><\/div>Local A.O.H.<\/span><\/h4>For years the burial place was unmarked. In 2003, the local Order of Ancient Hibernians erected a headstone in memory of those who died in the Famine. <\/span><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>In the early summer of 1845, on the 11th September of that year, a disease referred to as blight attacked the potato crop in some areas. In that year, one third of the entire crop was destroyed. In 1846, the crop was a total failure. Though 1847 was free from blight, few seed potatoes were planted, and the famine continued. In order to survive people were forced to eat anything, nettles, berries, roots, wildlife, animals, dogs and cats. Great poverty added to the unavoidable sufferings of whole families. Beggars were everywhere pressing demands, would elicit charity from the most hardened heart. The hovels and cottages were crumbling in ruins and abandoned by their tenants, who had to emigrate. this was in contrast to the extensive and princely estates occupied by rich English lords, whose dwellings and parks are surrounded by walls. <\/span><\/div>
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Graveyard <\/span><\/h3>
We now have a comprehensive Graveyard Directory, listing the names, ages and dates of those buried at St.Patrick’s Church, Glen. It was established in November 2010 and contains all the names listed on the various headstones in the local cemetery. The list will be up-dated from time to time, giving a comprehensive survey of those buried there. <\/span><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>The site is now available online http:\/\/www.irishgraveyards.ie. Follow the instructions given <\/span><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>In addition, for the benefit of parishioners and visitors, there is a hard copy and a full list of those buried in the old and new portions of the cemetery. This is housed in a shelter situated to the right of St.Patrick’s Church at Glen. <\/span><\/div>
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