The winners of competitions for the best websites, magazines and innovative use of modern media by individuals, parishes and dioceses were announced today at the General Synod in Galway.

The 2008 General Synod saw the introduction of two new awards in addition to the existing categories. Dublin and Glendalough’s Youth initiative, 3 Rock Youth won the award for most innovative use of newer technologies for its Crucial series of DVD’s which are designed for training young people for confirmation. Hollywood parish in Co. Down was runner up in the same category. The Revd Ian Poulton, Rector of Killiney-Ballybrack in the Diocese of Dublin won the award for the best blog site for his ‘For the Fainthearted’ site. The Revd Canon Patrick Comerford from the Church of Ireland Theological College was runner up.

In the websites category there were joint winners for the best diocesan websites between the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross and the Diocese of Connor. The winning parish website was Christ Church Lisburn in the Diocese of Connor with CORE (City Outreach for Renewal and Evangelism) in the Diocese of Dublin runner up.

In the magazines category, the best parish magazine was won by Willowfield parish in the Diocese of Down with Together, the magazine of Holy Trinity with St Silas and Immanuel in the Diocese of Connor the runner up. N’Vision, the Diocesan Magazine for Derry and Raphoe won the Diocesan Magazine category with the Church Review, the Dicoesan Magazine for Dublin and Glendalough runner up in this category. In Mission, the magazine was highly commended in the magazines for other organisations category.

Communications Competition Winners:

Newer Technologies
Winner: 3Rock Youth for the Crucial series.
Runner up: Hollywood Parish – range of materials

Blog:
Winner: Revd Ian Poulton  
www.forthefainthearted.com

Runner up: Revd Canon Patrick Comerford : http://revpatrickcomerford.blogspot.com

Parish website
Winner: Lisburn Parish, Connor
www.christchurchlisburn.com

Runner up: CORE, Dublin
www.corechurch.ie

Diocesan Website
Winner: Cork, Cloyne & Ross Diocese
www.cork.anglican.org

Joint: Connor Diocese
www.connor.anglican.org

Magazine Competition Winners

Parish
Winner: Willowfield Parish Community Association Newsletter (Down)
Runner up: Together, Holy Trinity & St Silas with Emmanuel (Connor)

Diocesan
Winner: n:vision, (Derry & Raphoe)
Runner up: Church Review (Dublin & Glendalough)

Other
Highly commended: In Mission CMS Ireland