Come along and be part of our river of light on Saturday November 1st, between 5 -8pm, as we host an ‘All Souls Lantern Walk’ in Strabane. Enjoy our free Family Lantern Making workshops around Strabane, Killeter and Castlederg in October. The Churches Trust is partnering with various community groups, in memory of Cecil Frances Alexander to acknowledge and remember her care for others and her love of the environment. “She was a true light in difficult times and her hymns, including ‘All things Bright and Beautiful‘ and ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, brought joy and hope into the lives of everyday people”, said Mary Holmes, CEO of The Churches Trust. This is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and Derry City Strabane District Council. Artist and Project Coordinator for Cecil Frances Alexander Celebrated, Sinéad Smyth, will guide you through the process of bending your willow into beautiful tepee style, handheld lantern designs and ways to embellish these with tissue paper. These workshops are intergenerational, free and open to all. We encourage families, parents, grandparents and guardians to become involved. Children must have a parent or guardian present. The design focus will be based around words and motifs from the works of Cecil Frances Alexander, using the descriptions of flowers, birds etc. from her songs and poems. Please bring your own torch for your lantern, all other materials will be provided.

On November 1st, between 5pm and 8pm, our guided ‘All Souls Lantern Walk’ will wind through the streets of Strabane. Short, shared events (stories, song and poems) at various venues along the way, which relate to Cecil Frances Alexander, include Patrick Street Graveyard, where children from the ‘School for the Deaf and Mute’ are buried. The walk will end with seasonal refreshments for everyone. To book a workshop click on link below.

Killeter Heritage Centre – Wednesday 8th October, 7pm to 9pm

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/killeter-lantern-making-workshop