Anglican Primates Hold Worship Service as Ireland Gathering Begins

All 38 Primates from the worldwide Anglican Communion were scheduled to attend a worship session this evening at St Patrick’s Church, Armagh. Those attending include Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and also Archbishop Robin Eames, who is the longest-serving and most-senior of the primates.

The 70-million member denomination is currently eagerly awaiting the find out the result of initial talks between the Communion’s leaders into the Windsor Report, and the issue of homosexuality within the Church that has brought the Anglican Communion to the brink of a schism.

The senior vicar Choral of St Patrick’s Church, Canon Michael Kennedy is scheduled to lead the Evensong Service.

Ireland has welcomed Primates from all over the world to the Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre yesterday, where a critical five-day gathering will take place. Archbishop Eames said, "It is a particular honour for the Church of Ireland to have been asked to stage such an important event."

In welcoming the Primates to Northern Ireland, the Most Revd Robin Eames, said, "I pray that this week will be of great benefit to us in our roles as leaders of the flock of Christ and I assure you all of the very warm welcome to the Church of Ireland."

Many have seen the gathering being in Northern Ireland, and the service in Armagh, as being a personal tribute to Archbishop Eames for his highly respected Chairmanship over recent years.

Over the recent history of the worldwide Anglican Communion, Eames has carried out three historic commissions for the denomination; one of which was to lead the Lambeth Commission into producing the Windsor Report – which aimed to reconcile and guide the Communion after the controversy instigated by the ECUSA’s decision to nominate homosexual Gene Robinson as a Bishop in New Hampshire, USA.

Also this week, the Primates are scheduled to discuss HIV/Aids issues, and the Anglican response to the tsunami in Asia – Africa region in December 2004.