On 10th April 2023 it will be twenty-five years since the historic Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed.

The signing of the Agreement was not the end of the journey to peace in Northern Ireland but marked simply the first faltering steps down a very long road to a new, brighter, and shared future.

That road will continue to be shaped by tolerance and respect for our differences, and a recognition of the need for greater understanding and reconciliation.  The principles of the Agreement were based on ‘partnership, equality and mutual respect’.  As we reflect on how far we have travelled, we must fully appreciate the sacrifices that were made as we capture a vision for what lies ahead.

Mindful that people from different parts of the community will have different views and emotions about the anniversary of the signing of the Agreement, the Church Leaders Group (Ireland) has prepared resources for use in times of private prayer and public forms of worship marking the anniversary, recalling the events of the past and looking to the future.

In the journey from Good Friday to Easter, from death to new life, the message of the Christian faith is a belief that love is stronger than hate and that the light of hope shines brightly in the darkness.

Prayer resources are available to download here.

The Church Leaders Group (Ireland) comprises the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Primates of All Ireland, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, and the President of the Irish Council of Churches. All of these represent churches across the whole island of Ireland.

The group came into existence in the late 1960s when the Church Leaders recognised the value in working together in light of the urgency of political developments of the time. Since then, those holding these offices have met frequently, united in their identity as disciples of Jesus and their shared commitment to work together for the common good.

The current members of the Church Leaders Group (Ireland) are:

The Most Reverend John McDowell
Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland

The Most Reverend Eamon Martin
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland

The Right Reverend Dr John Kirkpatrick
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The Reverend David Nixon
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland

The Right Reverend Andrew Forster
President of the Irish Council of Churches

Issued on behalf of the Church Leaders Group (Ireland) by the Church of Ireland Press Office