GovWire

The Northern Ireland Office minister Fleur Anderson has visited the Church of the Holy Name in Greenisland to show solidarity following a recent arson attack.

The Church provides an integral service to local people through a community shop and a range of activities that involve all ages as well as offering a place for parishioners to gather.

It was badly damaged in a fire on September 1.

Minister Anderson, who is Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the NIO, spoke with the Rev Dr Isobel Hawthorne-Steele, Minister of the Church about the attack and viewed the scale of the destruction.

She also heard about the experiences of the community in the aftermath of the attack.

Minister Anderson said: The discussions I had with Rev Dr Hawthorne-Steele were very constructive.

It was sad to see the scale of the destruction to a place that is a beacon of hope for many in the community.

It was encouraging to hear the positive support shown by local churches in Greenisland, the understanding shown to the families of the young boys involved and the plans for the future rebuilding.

I stand in solidarity with this entire community and I commend their resilience and forgiveness.

I must also commend the quick response of the Northern Ireland Fire Service, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, for their valiant efforts in tackling the blaze.

The Rev Dr Hawthorne-Steele said:

Having met with the minister it was encouraging to learn that she is a fellow community practitioner with extensive experience in building community cohesion and promoting transformative grassroots initiatives.

Having spent considerable time chatting and seeing first hand the devastation caused by the fire to our parish centre and church, the minister captured the full impact of the far-reaching consequences on our church and the wider community that this disaster has caused.

As a church, we greatly appreciate the fact that the minister acknowledged the efforts we are making to grow resilience in partnership with multi-faceted groups and organisations that work within this local area as we rebuild and renew our faith by revealing Gods grace.