Cathy Higgins’ new book, Churches in Exile: Alternative Models of Church for Ireland in the 21st Century (Columba, 2013) starts from the premise that churches in Ireland are in crisis, wedded to an outdated ‘Christendom’ model of church that has not served Christianity well. But in this thoughtful and easily digestible book, Higgins reflects on [...]
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Cathy Higgins’ “Churches in Exile”: Book Review and Book Launch 22 May – What’s Emerging among Churches in Ireland?
Rev Arlene Moore on Prayer and the Ecumenical Pentecost Faith Fest, 17-19 May
Earlier in the week I blogged about the ecumenical ‘Faith Fest’ organised for the Feast of Pentecost in Belfast. Events during the 17-19 May weekend are undergirded by two 24/7 prayer rooms – at the Church of Ireland/Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd (Cogs) in Monkstown and St Oliver Plunkett’s parish in Lenadoon. Since then [...]
Crawford Gribben on Ireland, America and the End of the World – ISASR Conference at UCD
‘Apocalyptic beliefs are one of this island’s most successful exports.’ That was one of the closing lines of a keynote address given by Prof Crawford Gribben of the School of History and Anthropology at Queen’s University Belfast, at the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions (ISASR) Conference at UCD (10-12 May 2013). ISASR [...]
Churches Urged to Get Together for Ecumenical Pentecost Faith Fest, 17-19 May
An ecumenical “Faith Fest” for the Feast of Pentecost is set for 17-19 May. St Oliver Plunkett’s Catholic parish in West Belfast and Church of the Good Shepherd (Church of Ireland and Methodist) in Monkstown will both be hosting 24/7 Prayer Rooms throughout the three day programme. Other events include: Friday 17th May at Oliver [...]
Fr Martin Magill’s Ecumenical Tithing–Braniel Methodist Church
In this week’s instalment of ‘ecumenical tithing,’ Fr Martin Magill from Oliver Plunkett Parish in West Belfast shares his experiences at Braniel Methodist Church in East Belfast. Fr Martin Magill and the Ups and Downs of Following Jesus This week I felt drawn to worship in a Methodist church and decided to go to Braniel [...]
Exploring the Significance of Peter Rollins and the Ikon Collective – Talk on Sunday 12 May at UCD
I’ll be presenting a paper titled, “Northern Ireland, America and the Emerging Church Movement: Exploring the Significance of Peter Rollins and the Ikon Collective” on Sunday 12 May at the Clinton Centre, University College Dublin, in a panel from 12.00-1.30 pm. The paper is based on my forthcoming book, co-authored with Gerardo Marti of Davidson [...]
Ryan Bolger’s The Gospel After Christendom Book Review–Part 3
Today is the third and final post taking in my review of Ryan Bolger’s edited collection, The Gospel After Christendom. In my first two posts, I provided a general outline review, and then descriptions of three of the chapters I found most useful. In today’s post, I focus on three more of my favourite chapters. [...]
Ryan Bolger’s The Gospel After Christendom Book Review–Part 2
Last week I wrote an initial overview review of a new book edited by Ryan Bolger, The Gospel After Christendom: New Voices, New Cultures, New Expressions (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012). The book contains 28 chapters by scholars and practitioners, and I indicated I would be back to highlight the chapters I found most intriguing. [...]
Fr Martin Magill’s Ecumenical Tithing–Glengormley Presbyterian Church
Today we continue with Fr Martin Magill’s reflections on ‘ecumenical tithing’, featuring his experience at Glengormley Presbyterian Church Fr Martin Magill at Glengormley Presbyterian Church Owing to the assistance of a neighbouring priest, I was free from commitments to my parish on Sunday 5th May which freed me to join a congregation for morning worship. [...]
Ryan Bolger’s The Gospel after Christendom–Book Review, Part I
The Gospel after Christendom: New Voices, New Cultures, New Expressions (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012) is an ambitious attempt to conceptualise, synthesise, and internationalise the Emerging Church Movement (ECM). Edited by Ryan Bolger, co-author of one of the earliest books on the ECM, it features 28 chapters by practitioners and scholars. The volume identifies some [...]
Fr Martin Magill’s Ecumenical Tithing–Prof John Brewer at Fitzroy Presbyterian
This week we continue with Fr Martin Magill’s experiences of ecumenical tithing. Last night he visited Fitzroy Presbyterian in Belfast, where Prof John Brewer of Queen’s University spoke on the findings in his new book, Religion, Ex Combatants and Peace in Northern Ireland, co-authored with David Mitchell and Gerard Leavey. (I earlier reviewed the book [...]
About me

Welcome to Building a Church Without Walls, a website for people who are excited about how Christianity is developing in the 21st Century. I am a Lecturer and Coordinator of the Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation Studies Programme at Trinity College Dublin at Belfast (the Irish School of Ecumenics).
Please note this is my personal site. All views are my own and are not representative of TCD.
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Church Without Walls Calendar
- What can the Churches Learn from Zimbabwe’s Masowe Apostles?: Isabel Mukonyora Book Review, Wandering a Gendered Wilderness February 3, 2010
- Jay Bakker: Book Review of Fall to Grace – Can Churches Find Enough Grace for Gay Marriage? February 15, 2011
- Fr Brian D’Arcy and his Critics: How Should Christians Talk about each Other? January 10, 2011
- Have a Chat at the Human Library – Community Relations Week Conversations Tomorrow (24 May) at Belfast City Hall May 23, 2013
- Alicia Turner: What’s the Point of Studying Religions? – Keynote at ISASR Conference May 21, 2013
- Fr Martin Magill’s Ecumenical Tithing–Reflections on the Ecumenical Pentecost Faith Fest May 20, 2013
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