Honour for former Minister?
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Rev. David Armstrong
THERE is to be a special meeting in Limavady Council next week to decide if the Freedom of the Borough should be bestowed on a former Presbyterian Minister who was drummed out of the town in 1984.
The motion, from the SDLP's Michael Coyle, calls for the honour to be given to both Rev David Armstrong and Fr Kevin Mullan - it is the first time this accolade has ever been proposed for individuals in Limavady.
Rev Armstrong sparked a storm of controversy by giving a goodwill message to Fr Mullan and his Catholic congregation on Christmas morning in 1984.
Rev Armstrong's gesture provoked outrage and he was forced from his church and his home. He then moved to England and retrained as an Anglican minister, and now lives in Carrigaline in Co Cork.
The motion, to be put forward by Cllr Coyle, states: "This council agrees to bestow the freedom of the borough on Rev David Armstrong and Fr Kevin Mullan in appreciation of their outstanding work in the field of peace and reconciliation in Limavady in the past, and in recognition of their continuing inspiration to people of different backgrounds in all parts of Ireland, to work for a society in which love and friendship overcomes the divisions of the past."
Speaking before the meeting, which is due to take place at Limavady Borough Council offices on Monday, September 29, commencing at 7pm, Mr Coyle explained his reasons for bringing the motion to the fore at this time.
He said: "I felt that this was an appropriate time to submit this motion as it reflects how far we have come in the North over the years regarding peace. As details of the proposed super councils were released last week, it occurred to me that this would be Limavady Borough Council's last chance to offer this tribute before we become part of the Causeway Coast District Council. Finally, it is an acknowledgement to them and to celebrate a period in history which reflects peace and shows how far we have come."
He continued: "I am looking forward to this debate on Monday night with my colleagues. I have received many telephone calls from the public who are very supportive of this call and I hope that this is something which is shared by my colleagues."
Rev David Armstrong said: "I would be very honoured if this were to come about and I am extremely moved that people in the town want this to happen.
“I am hopeful that I would be able to take my wife and children back to Limavady and meet the many many friends I believe we still have there.
“The last time I was in Limavady was 14 years ago when I quietly slipped into town to meet some dear friends , but sadly I haven't been there since.
“I can only hope and trust that people who disagree with me can still respect my integrity.
“I became a minister in Cambridge and while there, I spoke to scientists who said they did not agree at all with my beliefs but they still respected my integrity and invited myself and my wife to their homes to share a meal with them. Now, if people with no faith can respect my integrity, wouldn't it be nice if fellow Christians could do the same."
Rev Armstrong went on to recall the lead up to the fateful Christmas morning that was to have such a shocking impact on his life.
He explained: "In 1983, Fr Kevin came and stood outside our church on Christmas morning to wish my congregation a happy Christmas, I invited him inside the church out of the cold and he even said a few words. I went to his church across the road and did the same thing and received a lovely warm greeting, one woman even said it was the happiest Christmas of her life as she never thought she would see the day a Protestant minister from across the road would come into her church to wish everyone a happy Christmas.
“Fr Kevin and I thought we would do the same thing the following year, but when he came to our church on Christmas day, 1984, there were people with placards, many of whom were not from Limavady, and he received a less than gracious welcome. I also went to his church across the road and received a very warm welcome from his congregation.
“It was a dark and dangerous time in Northern Ireland back then, and I think Fr Kevin and I just wanted to shine a bright light and we wanted people to truly love their neighbours.
“I have never forgotten Limavady, and I do not mean that in a negative way, I think of the town every week, perhaps even everyday, and I always try to remember the good people I knew there and those that appreciated what I was trying to do."
Immediately after the incident in Limavady, Rev Armstrong received death threats, his wife was physically attacked and his eldest child came home from school crying after being verbally abused and bullied.
He continued: "I was shocked by the extremity of the reaction.
“When I was in Limavady I worked an 18 hour day, I often didn't get home from Altnagelvin till 2am, I was busy and I worked hard, and I hoped people in the town, could respect me and couldn't accuse me of being a lazy cleric. I hoped they might think 'he's different but at least he's there for us'. I thought that might have been an influence for good, so yes, I was very surprised by the reaction.
