ON Saturday (April 2) people in the Co Down village of Rostrevor will walk out together along the St Bronach's Camino, writes William Graham.
This is a key part of the bicentennial celebrations of Saint Bronach's Kilbroney Parish Church and the walk through the village will be led by the Church of Ireland Rector, the Rev Darren McCartney, and author and artist Susan Farrell.
The history and heritage of the broader Parish of Kilbroney (Church of Bronach) encompasses all Christian traditions in the Rostrevor community and surrounding areas.
Walkers will visit a number of locations associated with St Bronach in Rostrevor, hear about her history and how her influence remains strong to this day.
A special brochure prepared for the event by Susan Farrell and the Rev Darren explains that St Bronach, a disciple of Saint Patrick, established a Christian community in the valley above Rostrevor known as the Vale of Seclusion.
According to the genealogies of the saints, she is the daughter of a King of Dalriada, mother of St Mo Choe of Nendrum and sister to a bishop.
Historical records from Bronach's time are sparse but began with the introduction of monasteries and abbeys when the original inhabitants of Christian communities, both men and women, began to record Irish Christian history, Irish mythology and copy the Gospels, producing beautiful illuminated manuscripts.
Bronach is listed in O'Clery's Calendar of Saints on her Saint Day, April 2. She was a convert of St Patrick. She inherited her brother's bishop's crozier when he died making her an abbess.
In times past, the residents of the village, on her Saint Day, would walk with candles from the Faerie Glen bridge on Bridge Street along rights of way adjacent to the Rostrevor (Kilbroney) River up to her church, situated in what is now Old Kilbroney Graveyard to say prayers at the holy well.
Those participating in the walk will be awarded a Camino certificate.
Camino participants will gather at Kilbroney Centre, Forestbrook Road, Rostrevor, BT34 3BT at 12.30pm on Saturday April 2.
The moderate-to-easy walk will take approximately three hours and follows a loop from Faerie Glen, Shore Road, finishing at Kilbroney Old Graveyard.
The route also includes Crag graveyard, Kilbroney Parish Church and St Mary's Star of the Sea Church, where the famous St Bronagh's Bell is on display.
Walkers are advised to bring a picnic; tea and coffee will be available in Kilbroney Parish Church.
There will be Vespers later at Holy Cross Abbey, and at 10.15am on Sunday April 3 BBC Radio Ulster will broadcast from Saint Bronach's Kilbroney Parish Church.
A BOOK detailing the history of the 200-year-old Kilbroney Parish Church, written by Shelagh Roberts and Pauline Coffey, has been published - with the limited edition volume selling out at its launch.
The book records the church building, its architecture, its vicars, and many events in church and village life. And it also documents the village Church School, Knotty Ash cemetery, the Vicarage and the Kilbroney Christian Conference Centre.
The church opened in Easter 1822 and sits in the square in Rostrevor - its arms spread around the village, and the village in a sense spreading its arms around the church.
A recent restoration of the church was generously supported and contributed to by Catholic and Protestant - and those who dissent from any particular denomination... - in the village and area.
Importantly, the book details examples of outreach from the church and towards the church, with examples of neighbourliness and good community relations.
