One of earliest Presbyterian Churches in Ireland marks 350th anniversary

One of Ireland’s oldest congregations in continuous worship celebrates its 350th anniversary.
By Helen McGurk
Published 28th Apr 2023, 15:36 BST
Left to right – Ian Kyle Clerk of Session, Melanie Houston, Festival Co-ordinator, Elise Crean, organist and Ivor Stevenson, Timeline researcher and co-ordinator.Left to right – Ian Kyle Clerk of Session, Melanie Houston, Festival Co-ordinator, Elise Crean, organist and Ivor Stevenson, Timeline researcher and co-ordinator.
Left to right – Ian Kyle Clerk of Session, Melanie Houston, Festival Co-ordinator, Elise Crean, organist and Ivor Stevenson, Timeline researcher and co-ordinator.

Armagh City’s First Presbyterian Church marks the foundation of its congregation in 1673, starting Thursday, May 4 with a four-day festival entitled 350 Years in Scripture, Stitches and Stone.

The festival will include illustrations of Bible verses created by congregants and associated organisations expressed through window displays, floral arrangements, patchwork quilts, banners and a range of stitched works. A 3D timeline tracing the history of the congregation will highlight the generations of Armagh Presbyterian worshippers within changing historic contexts over the three and a half centuries.

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Co-organiser Elise Crean said: “The original church was first established in 1673 in Armagh before moving to a new site in Abbey Street in the early 1700s and finally to this magnificent, Gothic revival edifice on the Mall in 1879.”

Armagh First Presbyterian ChurchArmagh First Presbyterian Church
Armagh First Presbyterian Church

The church whose spire is 185ft high features unique assets including the 1905 pipe organ restored in 2019. One peculiar detail not seen on any other Irish Presbyterian Church is a monkey-faced chimera.

“The most common explanation is that a member of the congregation was pompously telling a stone mason how to do his job and this was the mason’s response,” says Elise.

The Armagh limestone church’s interior is a reflection of continually moving history: two marble tablets on which are written the names of those who served in WW1; regimental flags from 1920 after the disbandment of the 7th and 8th Battalions of the Royal Irish Fusiliers; a brass tablet commemorating those who served in WW2; and a light oak communion table and chairs by the pulpit installed in 1952.

Festival schedule:

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The Festival will commence with a service on Thursday, May 4 at 1.30pm, led by Rev Graham Mullan, with special music by the Armstrong Primary School Choir.

Refreshments will be available throughout the event with the exception of Sunday when they will be served from 2pm – 5pm.

The Morning Service on Sunday, May 7 at 11.30am will be conducted by Rev Dr Tony Davidson, and the Festival will be brought to a close with an Evening Service at 7pm, led by Very Rev Dr David Bruce.

Further details at www.firstarmagh.co.uk

Related topics:IrelandArmagh City