On Monday 14th October the Principal and Senior Management Team along with Dr Anita Gracie and the Students’ Union President, Andrew Irwin met the Rev Dr John Alderdice, who was making an official visit to the College in his capacity as President of the Methodist Church in Ireland for the year 2024-2025.

John is no stranger to the college having been the Methodist Chaplain to Queen’s University and Stranmillis between 2008 and 2014. Over lunch the President discussed education policy and the different forms of relationship which currently exist between churches and schools in Northern Ireland. He also heard from Andrew Irwin about the support for students provided by the college Chaplains and the many social events run by the Christian Union which are well-attended by students every week – not only those from Northern Ireland but also many international students on their study abroad programmes.

After lunch, John met with some members of the Christian Union Executive in the Prayer and Reflection Room in Stran House where they told him about the theme of the CU for this Year which is ‘Beyond Belief ……..’ and how they hope they will get students to grow beyond their comfortable and perhaps lukewarm faith into a deeper connection with God this year. He also heard about the College Commencement service which had taken place the previous week in the Drama Theatre and the great numbers of students and staff who had attended to hear about ‘Growing Beyond Complacency’.