Killyleagh Community to celebrate Golden Jubilee of St Mary Star of the Sea Church
The Roman Catholic community of Killyleagh and Shrigley is proud to announce the forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of St Mary Star of the Sea Church, located on Irish Street, Killyleagh.
The Jubilee commemorates the opening of the present church building in November 1975 and its formal dedication on 1st February 1976.
To mark this significant milestone, a programme of special events has been arranged, including a Jubilee Mass and an ecumenical service, celebrating faith, community, and a shared Christian heritage.
While the current church is relatively modern, the roots of the Catholic community in Killyleagh extend back over a millennium.
Historical records trace Christian worship in the area to around 800 A.D., with the founding of Killowen Church at the site now known as Mary’s Stile.
Despite this long tradition, the Catholic community had no church in Killyleagh for over 300 years until its restoration in 1825.
This revival is closely associated with Martin Lyons, a local tradesman who was working as a steeplejack on the spire of St John’s Church of Ireland.
Moved by his personal circumstance that Mr Lyons and his wife had to walk to Crossgar each Sunday to attend Mass, Fr McMullan, sent by Parish Priest Fr Richard Curoe, began celebrating Mass in the Lyons family home beside Killyleagh Castle.
The establishment of a permanent Catholic presence in the town was made possible through the generosity and goodwill of the wider community.
The Rowan Hamilton family of Killyleagh Castle donated land for the first church site, enabling the construction of a small chapel in 1832, followed by a more substantial church in 1861.
That building now serves as St Mary’s Parish Hall. Local tradition even suggests that some stones used in its construction were sourced from St John’s Church, symbolising the enduring spirit of Christian cooperation within the town.
For generations, the original St Mary’s Church was at the heart of parish life, hosting baptisms, marriages, funerals, and countless moments of shared faith.
By the early 1970s, however, the growing Catholic population necessitated a new place of worship. In 1975, the present St Mary, Star of the Sea Church was completed, providing a bright and welcoming space that continues to serve the spiritual and community needs of the parish.
“This anniversary represents more than the marking of a building,” said a spokesperson for the Golden Jubilee Committee. “It celebrates the flourishing of a vibrant faith community that has contributed to the social and spiritual life of Killyleagh and Shrigley for over two centuries.”
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The Golden Jubilee celebrations will begin on Saturday, 31st January, with an ecumenical service at 6.00pm in St John’s Church of Ireland, continuing the town’s long tradition of friendship between Christian denominations.
The Jubilee Mass will take place in St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church at 3.00pm on Sunday, 1st February 2026, celebrated by Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, joined by several former parish priests.
Refreshments will follow in St Mary’s Parish Hall.
Contact: Parish Office 10 Downpatrick Street, Crossgar Tel: 028 4483 0229 Office Hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 2.00pm–4.30pm.
