St. Columb’s

St. Columb’s Cathedral was built in 1633 and was founded by The Honourable The Irish Society. It was built after the Protestant Reformation and is one of the two Protestant churches that reside with in the walls of Derry. St. Columb’s represents a source of identity for both the Protestant/ Unionist and Catholic/ Nationalist communities. St. Columb’s is not only within the walls of Derry, but it resides in a community where the majority of the members are Catholic/Nationalist. The church is a reminder to the rest the community that there are other religious identities in the community and that these identities have been part of the city for generations.

There are many organizations that are pushing for peace in Derry. St. Columb’s is known for promoting unity for Christians churches (https://www.stcolumbscathedral.org/). As we know, both Catholic and Protestant religious derived from Christianity. Since ‘The Troubles’, the hatred between both communities has increased. St. Columb’s is showing that there are similarities between both communities and that there is a shared history, which is a step forward towards reconciliation between both communities .

There is no specific path to peace or reconciliation. It might take a few more years , but the time for reconciliation is near. It is not about who is “correct” or “wrong” but is about healing the wounds that have been opened. Having a religious entity pushing for peace building shows that there is hope for a peaceful tomorrow within the religious community . It is also very important that a religious entity is pushing for peace, and resides within one of the oldest building of Derry. Which holds significance to both communities. The building is a space that shows that both communities have a shared history. It is not a history of “us” and “them”, but rather a history of “we”.