In the Church of Ireland, those members over 18 and who subscribe to Parish funds can, if they are registered in what is called the Register of Vestry Members, attend and vote at the annual business meeting which is referred to as the Easter General Vestry.

At that annual business meeting an election is held to appoint 12 people who will deal with the business affairs of the parish for the following 12 months. In addition a People’s Churchwarden and a People’s Glebewarden will be elected. Those elected, together with the Rector’s Churchwarden and Rector’s Glebewarden, are referred to as the Select Vestry. The annual accounts are also presented at the Easter General Vestry.

2026 is a triennial year meaning that there will also be an election from among the registered vestry members of Diocesan synod members and supplementalists and Parochial Nominators and supplementalists. Those elected will hold these positions for three years.

This year’s Easter General Vestry will be held on Palm Sunday in the Parish Hall immediately after Morning Prayer. Refreshments will be provided.

Meeting point is Houston’s Mill, Broughshane.

Drive over the Collin to Broughshane. Turn right at the ‘T’ junction on Main Street and the car park is at Houston’s Mill just beside St Patrick’s church. Starting to walk at approximately 7:15 pm. The walk follows the River Braid and back by main street. This walk is suitable for all abilities.

Follow this link for a map of the walk - Buttermilk Bridge

Difficulty rating - 2

Distance - 5 km

Meet at the car park on the Hightown Road at 6:50pm. The route follows the green waymarking arrows and will take in McArt’s fort at the top of Cavehill before dropping down towards Belfast Castle and back to the car park. A challenging route. Follow this link for a map - Cavehill

Difficulty rating - 7

Distance - 7.2 km

Annual General meeting

Venue - Parish Room

There will be guest speakers from various charities supported by the Ladies’ Group.

Meet at the forest car park just below Woodburn Presbyterian Church at 6:50pm. Rough paths so walking boots recommended.

Difficulty Rating - 4

Distance - 8 km (this is to the Knockagh monument but shorter routes are also available through the forest). Approximately 3 km of this walk will be on public roads.

End of season dinner in Ballyrobin Country Lodge

This route begins at the Galgorm Castle Golf Club car park on the Galgorm Road, Ballymena. Follow the signs for the golf club and park in its car park near the clubhouse. The route will follow public pathways along the River Braid.

Terrain - public pathways and footpaths

Distance - 5 km

Difficulty rating - 4

Meet at Robin Young’s car park on the Feystown Road just above Cairncastle at 6:50pm. The route heads south, following the Ulster Way markers, to the top of the hill and then follows the escarpment with excellent views across to Scotland and across Ballygally bay. The area directly below the escarpment is covered in bluebells in May.

Difficulty Rating - 8 (steep section at the start for approximately 750m but reasonably flat from then on. There are also some stiles to negotiate)

Distance - 6 km

A number of candidates will be presented for confirmation to Bishop George Davison at this morning’s service.

Following a very enjoyable visit to Down cathedral last June the venue for the next cathedral visit is St Macartin’s in Enniskillen. It will be an early start making the journey to Enniskillen to take a tour of this beautiful cathedral, beginning at 11.30am. The tour will be conducted by the Dean himself, the Very Rev. Kenneth R J Hall, and should last about one hour. Then the group will have some free time to have lunch, look around the town and perhaps visit the nearby castle museum before leaving at approximately 4.00pm. A tentative plan would be to stop for tea on the way back at Corick House, near Fivemiletown (subject to availability).

Final details to follow.

If anyone would like to go on this day-trip please contact David Holmes directly or through this website’s Contact page. The strict deadline for this event is 30 April to allow numbers to be given to the restaurant for tea. It would still be possible to attend the cathedral visit but late-comers would need to make other arrangements for an evening meal.

This trip is intended for Kilbride Parish Church parishioners and friends.

Please visit the cathedral’s website to find out a little bit more about it ahead of the visit

Enniskillen Cathedral

Meet at the Minnowburn car park near Shaw’s Bridge at 6.50pm. Follow this link for full details - Giant’s Ring

Difficulty rating - 5

Distance - 6 km

This will be the same route that was walked around Divis last year. Meet at the car park just above Hannahstown at 6:50pm and then follow first the blue way markers and then the red to the top of the hill, returning down the opposite side looking out for the World War 2 aircraft that crashed during the war.

Follow this link for a map - Divis

Terrain - roads and some rough pathways. Some steep sections dependent on route followed.

Difficulty rating - 7

Distance - 10 km

Drive to the Park and Ride car park beside the railway station in Holywood and park. Aiming to catch the 6:45pm train. Note that the train timetable needs to be confirmed nearer the date of the walk. Take the train to Helen’s Bay station and walk back along the coastal path. Seniors go free on the train but only if you bring your Translink pass! For a shorter walk get off the train at an earlier stop before Helen’s Bay and walk back to Holywood or don’t take the train at all and walk along the coastal path towards Bangor until you meet the main body of walkers coming the other way.

Terrain - mainly footpaths

Difficulty rating - 3

Distance - 8 km

Immediately after this morning’s service parishioners are invited to enjoy a hot dog and light refreshments in the Parish Hall. Please let a member of the Ladies’ Group know if you would like to join us.

Meet at the car park (Robin Young’s car park) on the Feystown Road above Cairncastle at 6:50pm.

Difficulty rating - 7

Distance - 9 km

Some short, steep sections at the start and on the route

Meet at the Museum of Orange Heritage building on the Cregagh Road, Belfast at 6:50pm. Parking available in Cregagh Park and the bus turning area at its junction with Cregagh Road just above the museum.

The walk starts on the other side of the Knock dual-carriageway and leads up through Cregagh Glen on unmade paths so walking shoes/boots are recommended. The path is steep in places and there are steps at a number of locations. Near the top the path opens out into farmland.

Cregagh Glen

Difficulty rating - 7

Distance - 7 km

Meet in the car park on the Shane’s Hill Road on the northern side of Ballyboley Forest. Follow the Ulster Way signs across the road and through a short section of forest heading north. Climb firstly Shane’s Hill and then Agnew’s Hill before retracing the route back.

Map 1

Map 2

Difficulty rating - 8

Distance - 6 km

Dependent on how wet it has been in the weeks before this walk there may be some wet sections through what was the fire break in the recently harvested trees. These can usually be bypassed by walking through the stumps to the left or right..

Meet at the Castle gardens in Antrim at 6:50pm, parking beside Clotworthy House in the Castle grounds car park just off the Randalstown Road. The walking route goes around the back of Clotworthy House, across the Six Mile Water using the Deerpark Bridge, then right to follow the river downstream to Lough Neagh. Continue south along the lough shore, through Rea’s Wood, eventually emerging onto the A6 Dublin Road. Turn left and almost immediately cross over to Kirby’s Lane, follow it for about 0.5 km and at the sign for the Mill Race Trail (on the left) turn left into this lane and follow the Six Mile Water downstream towards the town, crossing the bridge at the weir and eventually coming out at Riverside and then into High Street at All Saints’ church. Turn left and using the underpass at the river walk back to the Castle Gardens. Follow the path through the ruins of the castle and into the main garden area before returning to the cars in front of Clotworthy House.

Terrain - footpaths and roads

Difficulty Rating - 4

Distance - 8 km

Meet at the public car park just off the Croft Road in Carnlough at 6:50pm. Going through the village turn left at the Spar. Cross over the crossroads and drive up to the small roundabout. Turn left again and park in the car park at the end of this avenue. Starting to walk at 7:00 pm. This walk is almost a repeat of a previous year’s visit to Carnlough crossing below the cliff face and over the mine workings to the Croft Road and then back to the village. There are lovely views of Carnlough Bay from the mine workings.

Terrain - roads and some unmade tracks

Difficulty Rating - 4

Distance - 4 km

Meeting point is Cutter’s Wharf, Lockview Road, Stranmillis at 6:50pm.

The route will follow the Lagan towpath diverting off into Lagan Meadows. It will follow paths around the park eventually returning to the towpath again and back to the start.

Follow this link for a map of the walk - Lagan Meadows

Difficulty rating - 3

Distance - 6 km

Full day excursion.

Following previous year’s very successful trips to Rathlin this will be another chance to explore more of the island. The bird sanctuary at the West Light should still be busy with birds although the breeding season is largely finished.

Various walking routes are available on the island and there is also an option to hire bicycles.

Visit the Rathlin Ferry website to book your own tickets. Leaving Ballycastle on the 10:00 sailing and returning from Rathlin at 17:00. The ferry is free for those holding a valid travel pass.

The last walk of the rambling season and it will be a flat route to finish off.

Meet at the the car park at the junction of Corporation Street and Dunbar Link in Belfast at 6:50pm. Directions from the M2 - leave the M2 at Duncrue Street and drive along Corporation Street, under the M3 and railway flyovers and the car park is on the right just before the traffic lights in Exchange Street. Parking is free after 6:00pm. From there the walk will go to the City Hall and in particular the Titanic Memorial on the eastern end of the building. Then it will head for the River Lagan and across the pedestrian footbridge at the ‘Big Fish’. Past the SSE Arena, ‘SS Nomadic’ and the Titanic Building to the ‘Great Light’, then HMS Caroline and then find a spot for coffee in the Ann Street area or Cathedral Quarter before returning to the cars via Tomb Street. A little bit of Belfast’s maritime history will be discussed on the way.

Terrain - footpaths and paved areas

Difficulty Rating - 3

Distance - 8 km

Study this map to get an idea of what’s on view (courtesy of the Titanic Quarter website).