Tomorrow on 1 July, at 14.30hrs, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh, will join Church leaders from Ireland and up to three thousand people to participate in a ceremony of worship at the Ulster Memorial Tower, Thiepval, France, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of The Battle of the Somme. Archbishop Eamon’s participation in tomorrow’s commemoration follows on from his visit last week with Archbishop Richard Clarke, and young people from across the island of Ireland, to places linked to the Easter Rising and the First World War.
The Order of Service will include Rev Bill Mullally, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, who will lead the congregation in the call to worship; Archbishop Eamon Martin will read a passage from Scripture (Jn 15: 7-14); Rev Frank Sellar, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland will lead The Lord’s Prayer; and Archbishop Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, will deliver the address at the Divine Service.
This commemoration service is part of a three-day ‘Battle of the Somme 100th Anniversary Tour’ which has been organised by The Somme Association, a registered charity based in Newtownards, County Down. See www.irishsoldier.org.
ENDS
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444
