Rector releases Gospel album

Waterside clergyman Rev David McBeth, who served in Glendermott Parish Church before travelling to Australia to work in an Anglican Church in the Diocese of Melbourne, has recorded an album of Gospel music.
Rector Rev. Irene Lyttle (left), with guests and members  who  took part in the Leckpatrick & Dunnalong Mothers Union annual advent carol and pray service in St. Johns church, Bready.  From left are Ann Fallows, organist, Sylvia Downey, branch leader, Anne McCurry, diocesan parenting co-ordinator, Kaye Nesbitt, Mothers Union diocesan secretary and Rev. David McBeth, guest speaker.  INLS 5011-522MT.Rector Rev. Irene Lyttle (left), with guests and members  who  took part in the Leckpatrick & Dunnalong Mothers Union annual advent carol and pray service in St. Johns church, Bready.  From left are Ann Fallows, organist, Sylvia Downey, branch leader, Anne McCurry, diocesan parenting co-ordinator, Kaye Nesbitt, Mothers Union diocesan secretary and Rev. David McBeth, guest speaker.  INLS 5011-522MT.
Rector Rev. Irene Lyttle (left), with guests and members who took part in the Leckpatrick & Dunnalong Mothers Union annual advent carol and pray service in St. Johns church, Bready. From left are Ann Fallows, organist, Sylvia Downey, branch leader, Anne McCurry, diocesan parenting co-ordinator, Kaye Nesbitt, Mothers Union diocesan secretary and Rev. David McBeth, guest speaker. INLS 5011-522MT.

As many Church of Ireland members and Sentinel readers may already know, Rev McBeth used to play in the country band ‘Gentry’.

The band played in local venues and at weddings and Rev McBeth said it was always his ambition to produce his own CD.

“But it just never materialised until now. To be frank, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have been producing a Country Gospel CD as I had no relationship with Jesus. My life was heading in a completely different direction. However, when I gave my life to Jesus amazing things began to happen. It is true God has plans for each of our lives,” he said.

The CD launch will take place on Saturday, April 27 at 8pm in Waterside Theatre, Glendermott Road, Londonderry.

Looking forward to the event Rev McBeth said: “I am delighted that all the seats are sold out for the Saturday Night. So a second date has been added: Monday, April 29, also at 8pm in the Waterside Theatre. I have a great line up of artists on both nights, including comedian Robert Ramsey, Simple Faith, Tullintain Pipe Band, Hands that Talk, Riverside Dancers, Amy Gardiner and Rachael McCombe,” he said.

Tickets are £10 and are available at the Waterside Theatre by telephoning 028 7131 4000.

Recalling his time ‘Down Under’ Rev McBeth described his time in Australia as “a really good experience”.

“We lived in a beautiful part of Melbourne called Mornington and Mount Martha a seaside resort. Our home was right beside the beach. Temperatures could reach up to the 50 degrees in the summer with a low of about 16 degrees in the winter. However, apart from the weather Australian life is pretty much the same as it is here back home,” he said.

Dismissing the notion that people lived a beach-mentality lifestyle, he said: “You can’t lie at the beach every day. Just like here people have to work to pay the bills, raise their family and keep a roof over their head. Most Australians work very long hours to maintain their high standard of living.

“The Anglican Church I worked in was very similar to any Church of Ireland you would get back here in Northern Ireland. On a Sunday there was a traditional service at 10am followed by a contemporary service specially geared to suit young families. During the week there were fellowship groups, Bible study, youth and teenage programmes and prayer groups. During the week I visited parishioners, engaged in programmes in the local community and taught religious education in the local primary schools, while at the weekends we had food kitchens set up in the centre of Melbourne for those who were homeless and living rough. What I particularly enjoyed in Australia was conducting weddings as most of them took place outside,” he said.

Rev McBeth came back to Northern Ireland because his my placement in Australia was only for three years.

“No matter how good the weather is, it doesn’t make up for your family and friends back home. April and I missed our families and friends very much, and ew discovered that the saying ‘east or west home is best’ was certainly proved true. We have three children Peter, Mark and Julie. All our children went to Australia but Mark stayed on in Australia and is currently working in the gold mines in Perth. He really likes enjoys the Australian way of life. I think you need to be young if you’re thinking about going to Australia or living abroad,” he mused.

Rev McBeth has now served as Rector at Dungiven and Bovevagh for the past two years, and at first admitted that he was somewhat nervous: “When I was asked by Bishop Ken Good if I would be take up the position of Rector of Dungiven and Bovevagh I was quite apprehensive. However, it has turn out to be an excellent move. Parishioners in both churches and the people in the local community have given us an incredible welcome and we are very, very happy.

!Where the churches are concerned, a lot has been achieved in the past two years. At Bovevagh a new Parish Centre has been built costing over £500,000, the windows in the church have been completely refurbished and extensive work has been carried out on the grounds. At Dungiven planning permission has been granted for an extension to the parish hall and refurbishment of windows and the inside of the church are about to begin. Major work has been carried out at the rectory and the glebe lands,” he said.

Numbers attending church have increased in both churches and new programmes have been introduced and a very successful Parish Mission during Holy Week has taken place, so things are definitely looking up for Rev McBeth at both churches, and the Rector is looking forward to a Mission trip to Kenya during the month of July with Church of Ireland members Sidney Canning and Anna Murphy.

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