Castledawson Twelfth: Call for Protestants to stop watching and start marching

Rev Nigel Kane, Presbyterian minister of Magherally and Katesbridge, described the march as a “shop window” for the institution which could attract young blood to help stymie a regional decline in membership numbers.

Although he ministers in Co Down, Rev Kane has a long involvement in the Twelfth in Co Londonderry, and is a member of LOL121, based at the small village of Curran on the southern edge of the county.

He had given a religious address to the thousands who attended the parade, the main thrust of which had been “salvation through Christ alone”.

He made particular reference to the Book of Acts, chapter 2 – specifically the verses 22 to 41 where Peter helped convert thousands of people by preaching: “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (NIV).

“The reason for ‘Christ alone’ was because He died, rose again and was exalted back to heaven,” said Rev Kane.

“He alone has the authority to forgive our sins.”

As well as delivering his address, Rev Kane was also on parade with his lodge.

Asked how the day passed off in general, he described it as “well-organised and dignified”.

He was also particularly gratified that a new member of his lodge, in his early 30s, had come out for his first-ever Twelfth parade.

Asked the strength of the order in the south Londonderry region, he said: “It’s obviously declining slightly, but it’s still strong.

“You notice elderly members being determined to parade; it’s very encouraging and a great example for younger men.”

He said he noticed fresh faces among other lodges as well as his own on Tuesday, which he dubbed an “encouraging sign”.

He added: “I’d love to see more good Christian men joining the institution.

“Today was a great shop window if you want to see the institution at its very, very best ...

“Certainly it’s lovely to see the crowds watching, but it’ll be great to see some of those men watching being spurred on by what they saw today to come and join with us and strengthen the order.

“If that message could get across, that would be very worthwhile.”

Another of those striding through the streets was Derek McKinney, a UUP councillor who belongs to Tobermore New Standard LOL 684.

He estimated that there would have been perhaps as many as 50 bands plus around 60 lodges and that, taken together, the combined strength on the streets would have been around 2,500 marchers.

It is the first time that the Twelfth parade has been held in the settlement since 2001.

Councillor McKinney, representing the Moyola area of Mid-Ulster District Council, said: “I think the parade definitely passed off very well. It seemed to flow really well.

“It was a very enjoyable day and, in my 28 years as an Orangeman, it was probably my best in Castledawson.”

Despite the settlement being well mixed in terms of its religious demographic, he said that there “no sense of any hostility at all” from anyone they encountered on the route.

Orangemen had come from Moneymore, Magherafelt, Garvagh, and across the surrounding region to attend the day, which saw marchers set out from the Hillhead Road during early afternoon and proceeding to the demonstration field at Magherafelt Road.

As well as the religious address from Rev Kane, Londonderry County Grand Master Hugh Stewart had spoken to those assembled about the bloodshed of the Somme.