Church Army salutes Connor's record breaker!

News Release: 02 November 2010

The Rev Canon Ken McReynolds, of the Connor Diocese, gave a sermon on Saturday October 30 which lasted an incredible five hours and 50 minutes!

The Lambeg rector’s successful attempt to reclaim the record he held five years ago has also raised more than £3,000 for the Church Army Evangelist Training Fund.

Eight of Mr McReynolds' faithful flock remained in church for the duration of the sermon, and others dropped in for sections of it. “At no time were there less than 40 people or so listening which was a relief as I was dreading ending up preaching to just one person,” said Mr McReynolds. “Thankfully it was well supported.”

Five years ago Mr McReynolds held the unofficial record for the longest uninterrupted sermon ever preached – which lasted five hours - but this was later beaten by a clergyman in the south of England who bettered it by 30 minutes.

Now Mr McReynolds has got his record back. Sadly it will remain an ‘unofficial’ record as he says Guinness’s rules on public speaking allow a break every 10 minutes. “If I was to work under that principal then I could have gone on all day,” he said.

Monies raised for the Church Army Evangelist Training Fund will support Craig Dowling [pictured above] a student from Lambeg Parish, and anyone wishing to register their support for Mr McReynold’s record-breaking sermon can still make a donation. Cheques should be made payable to "Lambeg Parish Church" and sent to Mr Neill Wilson, 3 Glencourt Close, Ravarnet Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim, BT27 5UR.

Go to Church Army Online to see a short film about Craig.