8-580: The Corrymeela Community was founded in 1965 by Ray Davey , along with John Morrow and Alex Watson, as an organisation seeking to aid individuals and communities which suffered through the violence and polarisation of the Northern Irish conflict . Early members were Christians in Northern Ireland from diverse backgrounds who wanted to begin a new community which could counter apathy and complacency and open up new possibilities. In early 1965, to give
16-554: A building on the north coast of Northern Ireland was purchased. The new centre was formally opened that same year by Pastor Tullio Vinay , founder of the Agape Community , which was one of Ray Davey's greatest inspirations. At first, Ray Davey served as the elected Leader in a part-time capacity; he became full-time Leader of the Community in 1974 and continued in that position until his retirement in 1980, when John Morrow took over
24-491: A piece made from almost 400 Irish linen handkerchiefs listing almost 4000 names of those killed in the Northern Irish conflict . Visitors left mementos and tokens beside names of those killed, making it an interactive and evolving artwork. The community also hosts educational programmes at the Corrymeela Ballycastle Centre for groups of students and faculty members visiting from colleges and universities around
32-596: The community a physical gathering place, Corrymeela moved to the Holiday Fellowship Centre near Ballycastle in County Antrim . The new centre was formally opened that same year by Pastor Tullio Vinay , founder of the Agape Community, which was one of Ray Davey's greatest inspirations. Its structure formalised, and a council was elected with Davey serving as treasurer and secretary. Corrymeela opened for
40-603: The public in November 1965, opening itself as a place for Christian reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Corrymeela was awarded the Niwano Peace Prize in 1997, in honour of "its contribution to significantly to interreligious cooperation, thereby furthering the cause of world peace." The community also exhibits artwork with themes of peace and reconciliation for Northern Ireland. In 2007, it exhibited The Linen Memorial ,
48-576: The world. Ray Davey Robert Raymond Davey (10 January 1915 â 16 April 2012) was a Presbyterian minister in Northern Ireland and the founder of the Corrymeela Community . He was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution , Queen's University Belfast , Union Theological College , and New College, Edinburgh . He was married to Kathleen Davey (nÊe Burrows), who died on 19 December 2008. In 1940, he
56-455: Was imprisoned in France and Germany. Returning home following the war, he was appointed (in 1946) the first Presbyterian Chaplain and Dean of Residences at Queen's University, Belfast . As part of that work, he established a Community Centre (the first denominational community centre in the university); it was from those beginnings that the Corrymeela Community was eventually born in 1965 when
64-562: Was ordained for field work with the YMCA War Service in North Africa, and helped to establish a centre in Tobruk for use by all faiths to care for the social, physical and spiritual needs of those engaged in desert warfare. He was taken captive in 1942 and held as a prisoner of war near Dresden , where he witnessed the allied bombing of the city, in which huge numbers of civilians died, and
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