The 4 Corners Festival was conceived by a group of Christians who wish to promote unity and reconciliation in the midst of their city’s – and their islands’ – troubled past.

The events of the festival are intended to complement, not replace, already existing events that take place during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, such as ecumenical prayer services.
The idea for the festival grew out of conversations between Fr Martin Magill, parish priest at Sacred Heart Parish in north Belfast, and Rev Steve Stockman of Fitzroy Presbyterian Church in south Belfast. Both had recently travelled to parts of Belfast with which they were unfamiliar, and had been astonished and transfixed by what they discovered there.
They hoped to prompt others to experience new areas of their city through a festival of events that would introduce people to new parts of their city, challenging and inspiring them to keep crossing boundaries in their everyday lives. They sought to introduce people to churches in the four corners of the city, bringing a transformational energy to the healing of the city.

Ann Marie Foley  writes about the ten charities honoured this year at the festival.