Presbyterian Moderator, Right Reverend Dr Trevor Gribben, has praised the work of local schools today while on a visit to three in east Donegall where local Presbyterian congregations have been involved for many years.

The visit to Donoughmore National School, where PCI is the school’s patron, Convoy Joint National School, where the church is joint patron with the Church of Ireland, and The Royal and Prior Comprehensive in Raphoe, where PCI is represented on the Board of Management, were part of the Moderator’s tour of PCI’s Presbytery of Derry and Donegal, which is made up of just under 50 congregations.

“I have been looking forward to my weeklong pastoral visit ever since I became Moderator in June. This week has not only been an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to those who not only pastor, lead and serve in our Presbyterian congregations in this part of the world, but an opportunity to thank those in the wider community and in civic life, especially those who teach and encourage our children and young people,” Dr Gribben said.

The morning began with the Moderator taking assembly at Donoughmore National School, where he spoke about living your life as a light for Jesus. Dr Gribben was greeted by teaching principal Mrs Wendy Long. During the visit he met the children, who mainly come from Killygordon, Lifford and Castlefinn. Accompanied by Rev Colin McKibbin, who is the minister of Donoughmore Presbyterian Church, and chairs the school’s board. Dr Gribben also met the teachers.

Speaking about the visit, Mrs Long, who also taught at the school for 26 years and attended a child, said, “As a small school of just over 20 children we welcomed the fact that the Moderator chose to visit us this morning, which I think he enjoyed very much. We certainly enjoyed having him.

“As our patron we have a very close relationship with PCI, in fact the church where we have our nativity each year is opposite us, and we are alongside the church halls, which we use for PE. It isn’t just that closeness and community that is so special, it is the strong Christian ethos that we have always had as a school, something that helps our children to flourish,” Mrs Long said.

The next stop was the larger Convey Joint National School, which has around 100 children, who, like Donoughmore, ranged in age from 4 to 12-years-old. PCI is joint patron with the Church of Ireland, with both St Ninians and Convoy Presbyterian within walking distance. Greeted by acting principal Rachel Gallagher, Dr Gribben visited each of the four classes, talked to the children and had a coffee with the teachers at the morning break. “We were very privileged to have one of the leaders of our national churches visit and spend time with us this morning,” Mrs Gallagher said.

“We are a diverse school with pupils attending from the local area and a variety of countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. I hope that Dr Gribben got a real sense of how we are a vibrant school community of different nationalities and faiths all learning together.”

The Moderator’s final stop was The Royal and Prior Comprehensive in Raphoe, a school of 600 students with a heritage that dates back some 400 years. “We have had a number of enjoyable visits undertaken by different Moderators over the years and were delighted to host Dr Gribben. I think he enjoyed his visit, especially the Q&A with members of our Christian Union, who asked him about his role, his faith and some current topics,” principal Dr Howard Welch said.

“As a school, the Moderator heard that we have a strong Christian ethos with the Donegal Board of Protestant Education as our patron. Ramelton Presbyterian’s minister, Rev Richard Tregaskis, currently sits on our Board of Management.

“Having said that, while we are a school that educates many young people who do have a Christian faith, some have no faith, or come from a different faith background altogether. We are an inclusive school where our ethos informs our culture significantly, and all our children are supported by our chaplain, Mrs Stewart, who the Moderator also met.”

Speaking about today, Dr Gribben said, “During my career in PCI I have advocated for all young people to have access to high quality education across Ireland. For more than a hundred years across the island, our Church’s engagement with education has become part of our history and our heritage. It is a privilege to be so closely involved.

“It was also wonderful to be so warmly welcomed and see the dedication of the principals and teachers to the education and personal development of the children and young people entrusted to them, within the Christian ethos of the schools, which remains important,” Dr Gribben said.

The Moderator concluded by saying, “My visit to Royal and Prior included a Q&A with students from the school’s Christian Union. I was impressed with their insightful and thought-provoking questions, as we had a great discussion, which included, ‘what it means to be a Christian today’ and ‘how should the church respond to life issues such as Assisted Dying. A long day, but a memorable one!”

During his visit to the Presbytery, Dr Gribben also visited the campus of Ulster University’s Magee campus. “It was really good to see how much it had grown since I was last there and hear about their exciting future plans,” he said.  “The campus offers a wonderful opportunity for young people in Northern Ireland, Ireland and further afield to come and study.”

Photos (1) The Moderator is pictured with the pupils and teachers of Donoughmore National School having taken assembly. Left to right, special needs assistant Miss Lynette Magee, vice principal Gillian Borland, special education teacher Shauna Kelly, and Donoughmore’s principal Mrs Wendy Long (2) Dr Gribben praying with the children at Convoy Joint National School (3) Following his visit to Royal and Prior Comprehensive School in Raphoe, the Moderator is pictured with the principal, some of the students and staff (left to right) Mr Allen O’Boyle, principal Dr Howard Welch, school chaplain, Mrs Sarah Stewart, Dr Gribben, vice principal Mrs Jacqueline Carson, and Clerk of Presbytery, Rev Colin McKibbin (4) Following his visit to Ulster University’s (UU) Martha Magee Building and the Magee campus, the Moderator is pictured with (left to right) Professor Malachy Ó Néill, UU’s director of regional engagement and PCI’s chaplain at Magee, Rev Graeme Orr.