Sir, - Shortly after I was installed as Dean of St Patrick's in January 1969 I made the following statement which received widespread publicity in the media at that time:
"I am convinced that the most effective witness which St Patrick's can give is by ceasing to be used exclusively by any one denomination, for in a very real sense it is greater and nobler than any of us. I feel it should be shared by all. I would like to see the cathedral regularly being available by mutual agreement for worship according to the rites of the main Christian traditions, and further I would like to see in St Patrick's Christians of each tradition joining frequently in the worship of other traditions.
"In this way I believe we can learn from each other, contribute to each other and help to bring nearer the day when all shall be visibly and organically one. St Patrick's can be a powerful force to heal the wounds of division and at the same time to witness to our common underlying unity, brotherhood and reconciliation in Christ."
I also wrote to the leaders of the other main Churches, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist, putting forward my suggestion that St Patrick's be shared by all. Only the Methodists displayed any interest. I think the Roman Catholics and Presbyterians imagined that there was some "catch", a hidden motive, to entice them into supporting the cathedral financially!
So the offer to share St Patrick's is not new. It was on the table 30 years ago. (See my autobiography Mark of Protest, pp 142, 143) - Yours, etc.,
Very Rev Victor G. Griffin, Limavady, Co Derry.