BELFAST – A new collection of psalms, born from the raw experiences of those who lived through Northern Ireland’s Troubles, was launched last week in Belfast. The eight newly composed pieces, entitled ‘Considering Lament: Psalms of protest, pain and hope,’ represent a decade-long effort by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to create a space for communal grieving and reconciliation through music and shared storytelling. The project, funded in part by the Department for Foreign Affairs, aims to offer voice to often-unheard narratives of loss, trauma, and resilience from a deeply divided past.
The launch event, held at the Presbyterian Assembly Rooms, wasn’t simply a musical performance. It was a gathering where individuals directly impacted by the conflict – victims, first responders, and members of both nationalist and unionist communities – introduced each psalm and shared the stories that shaped its creation. These weren’t historical accounts delivered from a distance, but deeply personal recollections of a period that continues to cast a long shadow over Northern Ireland. The initiative underscores a growing recognition of the require for continued dialogue and acknowledgement of suffering as the region navigates its fragile peace.
Among those who spoke was a former member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), recalling the harrowing experience of arriving at the scene of an IRA bomb in Derry in October 1990. The memory, he shared, remains a source of lasting trauma. Another former RUC officer, from Bangor in County Down, spoke of the jarring normalcy that often followed acts of violence, describing the feeling of returning to everyday life after facing the threat of death. “We talked about living in the context where people are being killed in terrorist incidents and yet in a very short time everything went back to normal,” he said, reflecting on the psychological toll of living under constant threat.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the evening came with the reading of names – names often lost to the broader historical narrative. Helen, a participant in one of the focus groups, read the name of Patsy Gillespie, a Catholic civilian who was tragically killed in 1990 after being forced by the IRA to drive a car bomb to an army checkpoint. The Irish Times reported at the time that the explosion also claimed the lives of five British soldiers: Stephen Burrows, Stephen Beacham, Vincent Scott, David Sweeney, and Paul Worrall. “These names, like so many others killed in the Troubles, are mostly forgotten by history,” Helen said, her voice filled with emotion. “But their families will never forget them. The devastating grief they have suffered, never really easing, the anniversaries, the birthdays, the Christmases, all holding a solemn loneliness that the loss of these men has inflicted on their families.”
A Decade of Listening and Reflection
‘Considering Lament’ is the culmination of a decade-long project undertaken by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The initiative began with the publication of ‘Considering Grace: Presbyterians and the Troubles’ in 2019, a book compiling the experiences of 120 Presbyterians who navigated loss and tested faith during the conflict. The current psalm project built upon this foundation, utilizing eight focus groups across Northern Ireland to gather firsthand accounts and shape the lyrics of the new compositions. Each group included members from both the nationalist and unionist communities, as well as young people who grew up during the peace process, ensuring a diversity of perspectives.
Rev Dr Karen Campbell and her husband, David, were tasked with writing and composing the psalms. “In this moment, at this time, for these people I think it’s really important that they have these tunes, these new words, to give voice to the things that maybe haven’t been heard before,” David Campbell explained.
“The idea of providing a platform…there’s a process there that these people can still sense they’re being heard, and that their story is still being told. I think that’s a really significant statement from this event.”
The project received financial support from the Department for Foreign Affairs, highlighting the Irish government’s commitment to reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland. The funding covered the costs of hymn writing and recording, enabling the creation of a tangible and lasting resource for communities grappling with the legacy of the Troubles.
Hopes for Wider Utilize and Continued Healing
Dr Rebecca Stevenson, the Public Affairs Officer for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, emphasized the importance of providing a platform for individuals to share their pain.
“I think people need to be heard. They need to have their stories heard and they deserve to have their stories heard,” she said. “Our hope is that this will allow people to process their pain, take it to God, where they’ll find hope instead of keeping it or nursing it or passing it on to the next generation.”
The Presbyterian Church hopes the psalms will be adopted by congregations across the island of Ireland, providing a framework for communal reflection and healing. The Psalms of Lament, Dr. Campbell noted, “provide honest words to speak before God when our own words fail us.” The church described the launch event as a reminder of “the brokenness in our society pointing us to the hope of singing our pain before the God of justice.”
Looking ahead, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland plans to make the recordings and sheet music for ‘Considering Lament’ widely available to churches and community groups. Further information about accessing the resources can be found on the church’s website. The project represents a continuing effort to address the enduring wounds of the Troubles and foster a more peaceful and reconciled future for Northern Ireland.
If you or someone you know is struggling with the aftermath of trauma, resources are available. In Northern Ireland, the Victim Support NI offers free and confidential support. Across Ireland, Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123.
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