Marilla Wows Crowds in Motherwell
Marilla Ness, the leading Catholic singer, drew crowds from near and far for her first ever event in Scotland – held in support of the persecuted Church, writes John Newton.
About 400 fans – some from as far as Somerset – packed into St Francis Xavier church, Carfin, outside Motherwell, for “An Evening of Prayerful Music”.
The concert, on Thursday April 29, raised nearly £3,000 for Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, which supports persecuted and other suffering Christians.
Described as Britain’s number one Christian recording artist, Irish-born Marilla Ness performed for almost two hours, singing a selection from her top-selling albums including Holy Spirit We Welcome You, Holy Is His Name, and Spirit of Lord.
Marilla Ness sang several songs dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and people joined in singing the hymn to Our Lady of Knock. Between songs there were brief reflections.
Marilla Ness spoke, for example, about how people’s lives had been touched by prayer.
Event organiser Dermot Lamb, ACN’s Scottish administrator, gave a short talk about the work of the charity.
He talked about Helen Berhane, the Eritrean singer who in 2004 was arrested for making a cassette of Christian songs and who was imprisoned in a metal container for two years.
Following an international campaign, Helen Berhane won political asylum to Denmark and she now uses a wheelchair because of beatings she received in prison for refusing to renounce her faith.
At the end of the evening Dermot Lamb presented Marilla Ness with a picture of the Ascension of Christ designed by members of the Joti educational and cultural centre in Sindh, Pakistan, a catechetical project supported by ACN. Dermot Lamb said: “Marilla Ness inspires great enthusiasm in people – it was very much a mixed audience with some ACN supporters and a great number of Marilla Ness fans. It was a wonderful opportunity to pray and remember those who suffer for their faith.”
Miss Ness stayed at Carfin for an hour after the concert until 11pm, signing autographs and talking.
