The Old Church Centre, formerly a Church of Ireland, was built in 1840 by Michael Harrison. Because of a dwindling congregation, it was deconsecrated and in 2006 a group of people concerned about the future of the Old Church formed Cushendun Building Preservation Trust, which has now leased the building from the Church of Ireland. Cushendun Building Preservation Trust was awarded funding through National Lottery Heritage Fund and other funders to restore the building and give it a new lease of life as a heritage, arts and community space. The Old Church Centre opened in 2019 and runs a busy programme of activities. The building is a charming example of simple, rural, ecclesiastical architecture. The weekend of European Heritage Open Days 2023 is part of Cushendun Old Church Centre’s (OCC) annual September Culture Month, scheduled to begin on the evening of September 8 with the launch of artist Raymie Watson’s evocative ‘Hands of History’ exhibition. This exhibition, on display throughout the weekend, showcases a series of bronze sculptures of the hands of the chief negotiators of the historic Good Friday Agreement. Visitors to the Old Church Centre on Saturday morning from 11am – 2pm and on Sunday from 11am-5pm will also have the opportunity to talk to staff and volunteers about the history of the Old Church and how the centre was developed, and receive details of current events, exhibitions and future programmes. Visitors will have the use of an interactive iPad which provides information on past and current projects developed by the Old Church Centre and signposts information about links.