Presbyterian History in Ireland
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1. AGHADOWEY, COUNTY LONDONDERRY 16. GROOMSPORT, COUNTY DOWN The congregation of Aghadowey dates back to the 1650s. In 1701 Rev. James Now a picturesque seaside village, Groomsport is generally regarded as the place McGregor was ordained minister. In 1718 he led part of his congregation to New from where the Eagle Wing set sail for America in the autumn of 1636 with 140 men, England in what is considered to be the first organised migration from Ulster to women and children on board. The ship had been built for a group of Presbyterian the New World. McGregor and many of those who travelled with him settled in ministers in Ulster who wanted to emigrate to New England where they hoped to New Hampshire, founding a town they renamed Londonderry. In 2014 a blue plaque enjoy religious freedom. Frustratingly for them, the ship never made it to America. was placed on Aghadowey Presbyterian Church in memory of McGregor. THE PRESBYTERIANS IN ULSTER After eight weeks at sea severe storms forced the ship to return to Ireland. Image: Aghadowey Presbyterian Church Image: The harbour and Cockle Row cottages 2. ANTRIM, COUNTY ANTRIM 17. HOLYWOOD, COUNTY DOWN Though more of a Puritan than a Presbyterian, Rev. John Ridge, an Englishman who was HERITAGE TRAIL The first Protestant minister, Rev. Robert Cunningham, settled in Holywood in 1615 the first Protestant minister in the parish of Antrim, worked closely with neighbouring and preached in the Priory Church. Because of his Presbyterianism, Cunningham was Presbyterian ministers and was held in high regard by them. He was actively involved eventually deposed by the authorities and returned to Scotland. In 1644 year the Solemn in the Six Mile Water Revival of the late 1620s/early 1630s. Arising out of the Revival, PRESBYTERIAN FAMILY TREE League and Covenant was brought to the town where it was signed by the local populace. Ridge organised what became known as the ‘Antrim Meeting’. Presbyterian ministers in 1560–PRESENT A copy of this Covenant is on display in the Ulster Museum. A 19th-century minister, Ulster were invited to this meeting which has been likened to a presbytery. Rev. Henry Henderson, wrote a newspaper column under the pseudonym ‘Ulster Scot’. Image: The Six Mile Water in Antrim Castle Gardens Image: The old priory church 3. BALLYCARRY, COUNTY ANTRIM 18. KELLSWATER, COUNTY ANTRIM Scotland Scotland In 1613 Rev. Edward Brice moved from Drymen in Stirlingshire to the parish In the late 1600s, Covenanters living in Mid Antrim met regularly on Ferniskey Hill, Ireland 1560 Ireland 1560 of Templecorran, where a Scottish settlement had been established by the Scottish south of Kells, where Rev. David Houston preached to them. In 1760 Rev. William Scottish Reformation America Edmonstones. Brice is considered to be the first Presbyterian minister in Ireland. He 1500s Martin based himself in this area and a former mill building by the banks of the Reformation 1500s was deposed in 1636 on account of his Presbyterianism and died shortly afterwards. Kells Water was converted to a meeting house. Because of its historical importance A memorial to him and other members of his family survives within the walls of the 1613 1600s Kellswater has been described as the ‘Capital of Covenanting’. The present building 1613 1600s dates from 1806 and retains many of its original features. Edward Brice ruined church in which he once preached in the village of Ballycarry. Edward Brice First Presbyterian Image: The ruins of Templecorran church First Presbyterian Image: Kellswater Reformed Presbyterian Church Minister in Ireland ‘Some of our friends came minister in Ireland 4. BANGOR, COUNTY DOWN out of Ireland,and dwelt 19. LONDONDERRY: FIRST DERRY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Articlave: led by Rev. James Moyarget: Following the lifting of the Siege in 1689, Queen Mary gave a generous 1636donation to 1638 In 1623 Rev. Robert Blair, who had previously been regent of Glasgow University, Woodside, a section of the birthplace of in Stranraer; and at the This chart shows the ‘Presbyterian family tree’, Fourministers and136 Scotland’s became minister of Bangor. In 1636, having been deposed by the authorities due to his congregation of Dunboe emigrated Rev. George Hill 1638 the Presbyterians of Derry to construct a new meeting house. The presentpeople attempt building,to sail to National Presbyterianism, he was one of the organisers of an unsuccessful attempt to establish to New England in 1718 (1810–1900), communions, twice in the Scotland’s highlighting the main divisions and unions over erected in the 1770s, stands on this site; the impressive portico wasAmerica addedonboard inE 1903.agle Wing Covenant minister, librarian National the last four centuries with particular reference a colony of Ulster-Scots Presbyterians in America, after which he returned to Scotland. and eminent year, great numbers used Covenant The former Blue Coat School to the rear of the church has been renovated as a visitor Myroe: birthplace of Isaac 1 to how these affected the various branches of 1642 His autobiography provides a valuable record of early Presbyterianism in Ireland. 24 Patton (1720–99), first historian to come – at one time five centre that tells the story of the many ways in which Presbyterians have contributed Inside Bangor Abbey is a memorial to his first wife, Beatrix Hamilton (d. 1633). Seceder minister in Ireland Presbyterianism in the province of Ulster. to the development of Derry. Firs to ff ciali 20 hundred persons. At one time I Pr esbyt ery in Image: Bangor Abbey 30 Cullybackey: location of the 1642 Ire anl d 19 first meeting of the Synod of baptized twenty-eight children First official The story of the Secession Church is particularly LONDONDERRY Presbytery 5. BELFAST: ASSEMBLY BUILDINGS the Reformed Presbyterian complex and readers should refer to David Stewart’s 20. LONDONDERRY: MAGEE COLLEGE 21 Church, 1811 brought out of Ireland’ in Ireland 1659 Assembly Buildings in Fisherwick Place, the headquarters of the Presbyterian Leck: birthplace of Rev. The Seceders in Ireland (1950) for more information. Magee College was established using the generous bequest of £20,000 by Francis Alison (1705–79) Fir stPresteriby an Church in Ireland, was opened in 1905, having cost over £70,000 to construct. The Ballymena: location of the first Martha Magee, the widow of Rev. William Magee of Lurgan. It opened in 1865 and Syno di nIreanl d who introduced the Scottish LONDONDERRY Presbyterian synod in Ireland, 1659 ‘LIFE OF MR JOHN LIVINGSTONE’ Enlightenment to America General Assembly meets here in June of each year. The crown spire was designed in C. 1638 1659 offered courses in both arts and theology. Though established as a Presbyterian imitation of St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Other interesting features include the Grillagh: birthplace of Rev. ANTRIM First Presbyterian institution focused on preparing men for the ministry, it accepted students from all Dr Henry Cooke (1788–1868), Synod in ‘Carrickfergus Window’, which commemorates the formation of the first presbytery Ireland backgrounds. In the 20th century the arts and theological departments separated leading figure in the Presbyterian 18 1683 Covenanter 1690 DONEGAL 13 22 Francis Makemie emigrates in Ireland in 1642, and the window and memorial to Thomas Sinclair (d. 1914), the Ballindrait: birthplace Church in the 19th century with the former becoming part of what is now Ulster University and frothemD onegallatter andf ounds Societies The General Synod leading Presbyterian layman of his day. of Rev. James Porter, merging with Assembly’s College, Belfast. PresbyterianChurchinAmerica minister of Greyabbey, executed in 1798. Doagh: the first Sunday school in 3 Ireland said to have been founded 1690 1700s here c. 1770 by William Galt Covenanter 1725 Societies General Synod 12 of Ulster Presbytery 2 of Antrim 6. BELFAST: BALMORAL CEMETERY Killybegs: Rev. Thomas Wilson ministered 28 21. MONREAGH, COUNTY DONEGAL here before, in 1681, emigrating to Following an incident in which a funeral conducted by two Presbyterian ministers Cookstown: location Monreagh Presbyterian Church was the earliest congregation to be formed in County America, the first Presbyterian minister of the union of the 26 16 was obstructed by a Church of Ireland rector, a number of Presbyterians decided from Ireland to do so 1700s Donegal – over its main door is inscribed the year 1644. The 18th-century meeting two branches of the 29 4 1725 1733 to establish a burial ground of their own. A site was acquired at Balmoral and the TYRONE Seceders to form the Lylehill: first Seceder house, on the traditional T-plan, contains many of interesting features. Across the Secession Presbytery new cemetery opened in 1855. Many of Belfast’s leading Presbyterians during the Secession Synod, 1818 congregation in 17 road in the former manse is the Monreagh Heritage Centre which tells the story of Church Omagh: meeting house built Ireland, 1740s BELFAST of Victorian period were buried here, including Rev. Henry Cooke and one of the first here c. 1720 now in the Ulster Antrim the area, with a strong emphasis on the history of Presbyterianism in the region, Folk and Transport Museum Brigh: birthplace of Millisle: birthplace of Amy missionaries sent by the Presbyterian Church to India, Rev. James Glasgow. Rev. John Abernethy 14 Carmichael (1867–1951), and the links that exist between East Donegal and the wider world. Image: The entrance to Balmoral Cemetery (1680–1740), leader missionary, most associated Image: Monreagh Heritage Centre 1746 of the Non-Subscribers with Dohnavur, India Irish Secession 27 Church in the early 1700s 15 1733 1763 7. BELFAST: MAY ST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Secession 22. PEDEN MEMORIAL, COUNTY ANTRIM Church Irish Reformed A new church in May Street was built in 1829 for Rev. Henry Cooke, ‘the 25 Ayrshire-born Rev. Alexander Peden was one of the key figures in the story of the Presbytery champion of orthodoxy’ who had led the campaign against the liberals in the Lurgan: birthplace of Hillsborough: here, Covenanters in late 17th-century Ireland.