Church Leaders visited Lough Neagh for the Season of Creation, listening to the local community and praying for all who depend on the lough.

PRESS RELEASE

23 September 2026

 

The 2026 Season of Creation theme is “Living Water”. Today, Church Leaders gathered at Cranfield on the shores of Lough Neagh to bear witness to the continuing challenge of water pollution and to reflect on our shared responsibility to care for creation.

 

Water is essential to all life. The Season of Creation invites us to consider how our patterns of consumption affect the natural world and how we can respond more responsibly to the pressures placed upon our waterways.

 

The visit follows the January 2026 conference, “Let Justice Flow like Rivers”, which brought together more than 200 Christians from different Churches to learn about the crisis facing Lough Neagh, listen to local experience and consider practical ways of caring for creation.

 

During today’s visit, Church Leaders met members of the local Lower Bann community and heard about the challenges faced by those whose livelihoods depend upon the land and water around Lough Neagh.

 

At Cranfield, which is on the shores of Lough Neagh, they were joined by pupils from St Patrick’s New Row Primary School, Castledawson, to observe the condition of the lough, its wildlife and signs of pollution using the Big River Watch App. They also shared in prayer as part of the Season of Creation.

 

The Scripture chosen for this year’s Season of Creation comes from Ezekiel 47:9,12, where the prophet receives a vision of life-giving water bringing renewal and abundance. For Christians, this image also points towards Christ as the source of living water.

 

The Church Leaders prayed for all whose lives are closely connected with Lough Neagh, including farming and fishing communities, local businesses and families. They also prayed for wisdom for those in public life entrusted with protecting this precious natural resource. The continuing crisis at Lough Neagh reminds us that care for creation is a shared responsibility. Each of us can consider how our choices affect water, land and the wider environment, and how we might take practical steps to protect our common home for future generations.

 

Church Leaders taking part in the visit were:

Rev Dr. Richard Kerr, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh

Archbishop John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh

Very Rev Dr Charles McMullen, President of the Irish Council of Churches.

Rev Alan Wardlow, Past President of the Methodist Church in Ireland