This is in response to Sammy Jones' letter likening the congregation of the Church of Christ the Redeemer to dinosaurs.

The Shankill Community is welcoming regardless of political affiliation and the suggestion that we are dinosaurs is offensive.
We are a Christian Church who by very doctrine of the Bible believe Christ's greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and the second is like unto it, love your neighbour as yourself.

The Select Vestry of Shankill Parish took the decision not to fly the Union Flag save on the occasion to honour those who died in the Battle of the Somme. We are the only Church in Lurgan to do so.

Cast your mind back to last year when nationalist yobs caused a service attended by 90 year old persons to be relocated. I put it to the gentleman that those people are the dinosaurs who are determined to destroy the values we hold dear as well as the astonishing progress we as a country have made.

Shankill Church has been bombarded more times during the Troubles, but did it become bitter and resentful? No it did not.

Come along to one of our services and see the vibrancy of our worship, and I think Mr Jones will have to apologise for this erroneous comment.