Killeter Presbyterian Church

Image: © Kenneth Allen Taken: 5 Apr 2007

The locals refer to it as Magherangeeragh Meeting House. This story is well known locally, regarding a minister who performed a marriage there in November 1937, and by mistake wedded the best man to the bride due to a misunderstanding. It was the fault of the best man who stepped out of position and responded for the silent bridegroom. Some locals may have thought that it was the Rev. J H Lyons who performed the ceremony but the Celebrant and whose signature on the marriage certificate was Rev. William Duncan. Rebecca Cunningham, the bride, and Christopher Craig, the bridegroom, were unknown to the ministers. The bride arrived at the Presbyterian church with Albert Muldoon who was the best man. The church sexton was pressed into service as bridesmaid. While awaiting for the ministers, the party got mixed up, the best man taking the place of the groom. The minister was reported to have asked the best man, "Are you the groom"? and he thought that he was asked, "Are you Muldoon" He made all the responses until the time came for the words I will." - The bride said it for him. Not until the party went to the vestry to sign the register was the mistake learned. The ministers decided the ceremony could be performed over again. Only the difference in names prevented the best man from being legally married to the bride. Rev. Lyons conducted his first marriage ceremony in the church in November 1939 and he may have assisted Rev. Duncan when Rebecca Cunningham and Christopher Craig were married

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