Background:
Each year The Ulster Beekeepers’ Association holds a Beekeepers’ Harvest Thanksgiving Service.  It is the only
such service held in Britain or Ireland and is supported by beekeepers and others from all over the province and beyond.

It is a service open to all denominations, taking place in a different church each year and is hosted this year by Randalstown & District Beekeepers’ Association. This year the service will be combined with Randalstown (OC) Presbyterian Church own Thanksgiving Service

About the Service: The Very Reverend Dr. W. Donald Patton will conduct the Service and preach the sermon.  The Lessons will be read by the President of the Ulster Beekeepers’ Association and the President of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations.  The Offering will be donated to “Bees for Development” an International Charity which seeks to help Third World Countries through developing their Beekeeping and their Marketing of Honey and “The Zomba Project “which supports beekeepers in Zomba, Malawi.

About the Church: Old Congregation Randalstown was formed in the 1830. The present building built in 1790 on a site granted by the only daughter of Sir Henry O’Neill of Shane’s Castle is elliptical and is one of the unusual buildings of the Presbyterian Church.  The Church adopted the name “Old Congregation” and from 1840 operated within Ballymena Presbytery.

The Randalstown & District Beekeepers’ Association will provide refreshments for everyone after the Service and will add to the Congregation’s harvest display with a beekeeping exhibit.

Directions: Coming from A6 from Antrim/International Airport/M22 - follow signs for Randalstown. When in centre of Randalstown, go straight over roundabout in the main street, following signs for B52, Portglenone Road. The Church is on the left hand side. Coming from Cookstown, Castledawson direction. Turn off for Randalstown just at the beginning of the M22. Drive into centre of Randalstown, at small roundabout and take first left onto Portglenone Road. The Church is on the left hand side. There is a small car park opposite the church.

Additional information: The Ulster Beekeepers’ Association is the parent body to which the nine local Beekeeping Associations in Northern Ireland are affiliated.  They are: Roe Valley, Mid Antrim, East Antrim, Randalstown, Belfast, Killinchy, Dromore, Fermanagh & Mid Ulster. Beekeepers’ Harvest Services have been held in Magheralin, Clandeboye Estate Church, Dromore, Farnaught (Co. Leitrim), St Patrick’s Cathedral (Dublin), Monea and St. Patrick’s (Ballymena) and Killinchy Parish Church.

09/21/2009