Church shop reopening 'first shoots of revival' after fire

The reopening of a parish community shop in County Antrim after the church was set on fire in an arson attack last September represents the "first shoots of revival", the director of the shop has said.

The Church of the Holy Name and its parish hall in Greenisland, were severely damaged in the fire in September.

The parish community shop has temporarily relocated to a portable cabin next to the church, while the original shop and parish centre is set to be demolished and rebuilt.

Roger Martin, director of the parish community shop, said: "We see this as the first part of a journey with the regeneration of the church and the church hall."

Mr Martin said he is "feeling elated" with the reopening and that it is "great to have movement after nine months".

"This is the first shoots of revival, I would put it as, for the church," he said.

"We've had great support online from the community, you know a lot of people asking: 'When are you opening again?', because they really value the shop."

He said the shop can buy "over stock" from large supermarkets at a reduced price as well as wholesalers.

The proceeds from the shop sales go towards the church, its outreach support services and other various charitable causes.

The cabin next to the church was transported from Glenavy to Greenisland during Storm Darragh in December 2024.

"It arrived amongst torrential rain and high winds, but the guys did a fantastic job, we were all like drowned rats by the end of the day when we saw it put into position," Mr Martin said.

Lorna Brown, a volunteer in the parish community shop and a children and family outreach worker for the Greenisland parish, said "it's absolutely brilliant" to have the shop reopened.

"It's our first big milestone that we're hitting, we've a lot of hurdles to go but this is our first one and I think it's a boost for everybody," Ms Brown said.

"There are people who come to this shop - that's their only outlet for the day, they don't actually go anywhere else".

Elsie Ferris was one of the first customers to step foot into the new parish community shop.

She said she is "really pleased" the shop has reopened adding that she got brought in first because "I'm always there and I used to bake for them".

"All delighted to get it opened, its been closed for ages now you know, and they are all awful nice in it," Ms Ferris added.

Among the customers was Jean and Tom Hill, who said they were "delighted" with the shop reopening.

Speaking to BBC News NI, Mrs Hill said she is "so excited about it, we've really missed it".

"Everybody has been asking about when it is opening around the Greenisland area," Mr Hill said.

The fire was started after the church celebrated its 70th anniversary and it destroyed the church roof, interior and parish centre.

Three boys - two aged 11 and one aged 10 - were charged with arson over the blaze.

But criminal proceedings were ended before they were due to make their first court appearances.