In its editorial on Monday 5 May 2025, the News Letter was glowing about the Belfast marathon event held the previous day.  It described it as “an almost spiritual journey through Northern Ireland’s capital city”.

Sadly, no mention was made of the negative impact of a Sunday marathon on the true spiritual life of the city. Unlike most UK cities where marathons are held on Sunday, Belfast still has a significant number of vibrant active churches, and several had to either cancel or reschedule meetings because of the marathon. Some folks simply were unable to get to church at all.

Also, we know of several Christians within our denomination and elsewhere who, because of their view on the sanctity of the Lord’s Day, felt unable to take part in the marathon. Since its move from Monday bank holiday to Sunday, the Belfast marathon has ceased to be an inclusive community event.

Belfast has a precious evangelical heritage, of which a deep respect for the Lord’s Day is an integral part, but it is being discarded and repudiated at breakneck speed by those determined to create a secular society.

As a denomination, the EPC stands firm for the Lord’s Day, and it is our desire that our people might rejoice in it and call it a delight.