A dedication of a memorial stone to the late Katherine Elliott (1850-1910)
On Friday 15th September, Slavin Parish Church held a service of Dedication of a memorial stone to the late Katherine Elliott (1850-1910), combined with Harvest Thanksgiving.
Katherine Elliott was the daughter of Robert Williams Armstrong, a co-founder of Belleek Pottery.
She was born in London and the family came to Belleek in 1850 when her father, an architect, was involved with the building of the Pottery. Katherine was very well educated and was a talented musician, artist and poet. She married a local farmer, James Elliott, and they made their home at Gortnalee, near Belleek. In the 1870s times were hard for everyone and Katherine and James struggled to raise 6 children and make ends meet. Katherine used her musical talent to train a ladies choir in Slavin and raised money to buy an organ for the church. This was an exceptionally good choir, winning prizes at the annual Choral Festival in Bundoran.
On Friday night, last, the service was conducted by the Rector, Rev. Ngozi Njoku. The stone was unveiled by two great grandsons of Katherine, Robin Ferguson and Stanley MacAllister, and John Maguire Managing Director of Belleek Pottery. The dedication of the stone was at the start of the service and the Choir from the Garrison Group sang a piece entitled, 'God's Choir' in sight of the memorial stone.
The Bible reading was read by Stanley MacAllister, a great grandson of Katherine's from Cork.
Brian Russell a Belleek Collector from Portsmouth told the congregation some information about Katherine's life, a subject which he has researched deeply. Vivienne Ferguson read one of Katherine's poems, 'Recollections', and Audrey Ovens, a Slavin Parishioner and member of the choir read two of her own poems. The choir accompanied by their organist, Joy Graham, sang two pieces, 'Master we will work for Thee' and ' Walk with me'. Slavin organist, Ethne Earls, accompanied the congregational singing. A vote of thanks to all concerned was given by Robert Ovens, Rector's Chuchwarden. A Harvest Supper was served to the large congregation by the ladies of Slavin Parish.
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Photo 1
From left – Tom Ovens (Peoples Churchwarden), Rosemary Barton MLA, Fergus Cleary (Head of Design, Belleek Pottery), Rev. Ngozi Njoku, (Rector), John Maguire, (Managing Director Belleek Pottery),Alex Baird (Vice Chariman, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council), Robert Ovens (Rector’s Churchwarden)
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Photo 2
Eight great grand children of Katherine Elliott with John Maguire, (Managing Director Belleek Pottery) and Rector Rev. Ngozi Njoku
From left – Vivienne Ferguson, Stanley MacAllister, Ida Byers, John Maguire, Rev. Ngozi Njoku, Ernest MacAllister, Robin Ferguson, Patricia McCallion, Pat Lally, Soinbhe Lally, Maurice Cassidy,
Betty Bootman. |
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Photo 3
Ernest and Marie MacAllister & Sue and Stanley MacAllister who travelled form Cork for the dedication service for their great grand mother. |
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Photo 4
Ernie Elliott (from Blaney Derrygonnelly), the only surviving grandson of Katherine Elliott with his wife Pauline. |
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Photo 5
The ladies who decorated Slavin for Harvest Thanksgiving with the Rector Rev. Ngozi Njoku.
Doreen Earls, May Somerville, Phemia Gregg, Florence Earls, amd Audrey Ovens. |
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Photo 6
Past organists of Slavin, Elizabeth Hazlett, Margaret Kerr, Helen Bruce, Joyce Hamilton and present organist Ethne Earls. |
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Photo 7
The choir of the Garrison Group of Parishes |
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