On Sunday 20 March 2022 the church welcomed the gentlemen of Ballymoney Voice Choir, among whom was a second tenor well known to the congregation, namely Rev Joe Sweeney. The choir’s visit was the culmination of three years planning in that an invitation had been first extended in the autumn of 2019 with a date set for the spring of 2020, only to be postponed when the Coronavirus pandemic struck. In the event it was worth the wait. In the course of a special service for Lent the choir took centre stage four times and beautifully rendered a total of eleven sacred songs in full four-part harmony. One of the highlights of the evening was a solo rendition of “The Holy City” by Choir Master, Mr David Loughridge. The conductor was Amanda Doak-Heron and the Choir was accompanied by Heather Loughridge, an accomplished pianist in her own right.
Supper in the Peter Good Hall after the service provided an opportunity for many friendships to be renewed and grateful thanks expressed to all who had worked to bring about the visit and make the evening such a success. Omagh Methodist Church had been well filled with support from churches and congregations across the circuit.
Ballymoney Male Voice Choir
Those who organised the visit [L – R] Mrs Isobel Strong, Rev Eleanor Hayden, Rev Leah McKibben, Rev Joe Sweeney, Mr David Loughridge
Mrs Isobel Strong, Piano and Mrs Betty Doonan, organ who led the congregational hymns