Published: Thursday, 25th June, 2009 9:00am

Bishop denies church is against military plaques

Comments (0) | Print | Email

The Bishop of Clogher has rejected a suggestion from an association of police and military families that memorial plaques may no longer be erected in Church of Ireland churches.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Michael Jackson said that the assertion by the Fermanagh Phoenix Group, a grouping including members and families of the Ulster Defence Regiment Association and Ulster Special Constabulary Association, that 'no plaques should be erected in churches' is 'incorrect'.

Chairman of the Association, Mr. Alan Madill, said: 'The view of the Bishop of Clogher, Bishop Jackson and other Bishops is that no plaques should be erected in churches, rather that any plaques should be erected, in this instance, in the Cathedral in Clogher. This despite the fact that many churches within the Church of Ireland and others of differing denominations already have memorial plaques proudly erected in prominent places.

'Memorial plaques are quite personal, in most instances commemorating the life of an individual or an organisation from that church or local area. To suggest that erecting a plaque in Clogher to someone or an organisation from Maguiresbridge or Kesh is quite impersonal and will probably never be seen by people from the areas concerned. They also form part of the history of the church and area concerned and are a ready source of information to visitors.

'Bishop Jackson seems to have forgotten, or deliberately chooses to ignore the fact that many, if not a majority of those who gave their lives in the Clogher Diocese were members of the church of Ireland'.

'Many people are unhappy with the Church in this regard and with what seems to be a concerted effort to sanitise our history'.

However, Bishop Jackson has countered that this is not the current view of the Church of Ireland or the Bishops in relation to the erection of memorial plaques.

'Memorial plaques have in the past, and continue to be, erected in parish churches throughout the diocese of Clogher, once appropriate approval from parish, diocese and central church have been obtained.

'It is not my intention as bishop to refuse permission to erect memorials in churches to those who have given of their life in service to the community and the country. Therefore for Mr Madill to state that "no plaques should be erected in churches" is incorrect. It is the agreed opinion of the bishops of the Church of Ireland that the erection of any plaque which commemorates an institution generally, such as the RUC, thereby honouring the commitment and contribution, often in tragic circumstances, of all members of that institution, be in the diocesan cathedral. This recognizes service to the community throughout the diocese in question. In fact a plaque in recognition of the service of the RUC has already been erected in Clogher Cathedral,' he said.

'For Mr Madill to suggest that I, either myself or in my office as bishop, have no respect for those who, as members of the Security Forces, risked and in many cases gave their lives in the course of their duty and in service of the community throughout the period of The Troubles is presumptuous and absurd. There never has been anything other than appropriate consideration given to requests to have memorials to individuals who, as members of lawful organizations, gave their lives in the course of duty,' he added.

See Letters page for full correspondence on the issue.