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	St. Hilda's Church, Kilmakee
	St. Colman was one of the best known Irish missionaries who went to England to preach the gospel and became Bishop of Lindisfarne in Northumbria in the year 661 A.D. There is a legend that on his way from Ireland St. Colman had to wade across the River Lagan, for there were no bridges to cross. He crossed where the lands of Old Forge meet those of Seymour Hill. As the river was in flood, he was almost drowned. As a thanksgiving for his safe crossing he built a small house of mud and sticks, which became known as Colman's Oratory.
	When in 1907-08 it was decided to build a Church for the people of Dunmurry, it was agreed that the Church should be dedicated to St. Colman. When later Dunmurry Parish sponsored a daughter church, it was thought fitting that it should be dedicated to St. Hilda who so ably supported St. Colman at the Synod of Whitby.
	THE DREAM'S FULFILMENT IN KILMAKEE
	When the Northern Ireland Housing Trust decided to build the Housing Estates of Seymour Hill and Conway in the parishes of Dunmurry and Derriaghy, the Diocesan Council realised that a Church would be needed and immediately chose a central site. The rector, the Reverend Canon R. C. Ellis and the Select Vestry of Dunmurry Parish accepted the responsibility of caring for those who moved into the houses as they were built. On the Whitsunday, 20th May, 1956, the clergy began to conduct Church Services in Kilmakee Orange Hall and the services continued there until a dual purpose church hall was dedicated to St. Hilda on 17th May, 1958. This part of the parish continued to grow to such an extent that on 1st August, 1964, the Diocesan Council, constituted the area as the Parish of Kilmakee.
	On the 28th June, 1968, the first sods of the Parish Church were cut by Mrs. R. C. Ellis and on the 15th November, 1969, the foundation stone was laid by the Governor of Northern Ireland, Lord Grey. On 19th December, 1970, the year in which the Church of Ireland commemorated the centenary of its Disestablishment, the Parish Church was consecrated. Thus in a period of fourteen years, materialised the dream of dedicating to St. Hilda a new parish and new church at Kilmakee.
	Mrs. R. C. Ellis cuts the first sod for the Parish Church.
	The Governor, Lord Grey, laying the foundation stone of St. Hilda's Parish Church.
	20th May, 1956 - The first service was held in Kilmakee Orange Hall.
	26th January, 1957 - The first sod for the foundation of St. Hilda's Church Hall was cut by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt. Rev. R. C. H. Elliot D.D.
	6th September, 1957 - The foundation stone of St. Hilda's Church Hall was laid by Mr Austin Brown, Hon. Secretary of the Diocesan Council.
	17th May, 1958 - St. Hilda's Church Hall was dedicated.
	1st August, 1964 - The Diocesan Council constituted Seymour Hill and Conway Housing Estates the Parish of Kilmakee.
	28th June, 1968 - The first sods of the Parish Church of St. Hilda were cut by Mrs. R. C. Ellis.
	15th November, 1969 - The foundation stone of the Parish Church of St. Hilda was laid by His Excellency the Lord Grey of Naunton, G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., O.B.E., the Governor of Northern Ireland.
	19th December, 1970 - St. Hilda's Parish Church was consecrated by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt. Rev. A. H. Butler, M.B.E., D.D.
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