Congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Banbridge Road,
Dromara

Sunday Services:
12.00 noon

Minister: Rev. Shaw Thompson
Tel: (028) 9753 3023
Email: sthompson@presbyterianireland.org

First Dromara

First Dromara congregation was originally part of Dromore. In 1713 the Synod of Ulster made it a separate congregation, annexing to it the townlands of Tullyniskey, Enock, Fedoney and Carnew, belonging to Magherally; and Kinallen, Leppock and the upper half of Ballykeel, belonging to Dromore congregation. The first minister, the Rev John Campbell, was ordained in December 1715. Mr Campbell was succeeded in turn by Rev John King (1726-1762), James Jackson Birch (1764-1816) and James Birch Black (1816-1823).

There is no information as to where the early ministers lived. The first manse that can be traced with certainty is Marybrook Farm, which the Rev James Jackson Birch purchased in November 1795 for £300.

The fifth minister, the Rev William Craig was installed in December 1823. When he went to Dromara the congregation, then one of the largest and richest in connection with the Synod of Ulster, worshipped in an old thatched church. The present Meeting House was built in 1826 at a total cost of £2,035. The largest contributor was the Rev William Craig who "forgave" stipend to the extent of £272 - more than three years income. The old meetinghouse and session-house was sold for £68. After leaving the manse at Marybrook, Mr Craig moved to Pine Hill where he lived until a manse was built at Tullyniskey in 1858 at a cost of £600.

Mr Craig died in December 1871 and the congregation was much disturbed by disputes as to his successor. The minority of the congregation, backed by the General Assembly wanted an immediate settlement. A majority party however, wanted to wait until a student called William Wilson had completed his studies and was available for a call in 1873. They took possession of the church, during which time the minority party held services in a barn granted by Joseph Bell of Bellfield.

In February 1874 the majority party held a meeting at which resolutions were passed renouncing their connection with the General Assembly and expressing their desire to be received into the Reformed Presbyterian Church. On the advice of the Presbytery they decided to withdraw from First Dromara Church building in May 1874 and worshipped in the open air during the Sabbaths of June. A wooden hall, erected in a plot of ground across the road from the church, was opened in July 1874. Their first minister, the Rev Torrens Boyd was installed in February 1875 and the present Reformed Presbyterian Church was opened in February 1877.

As a result of the split, First Dromara congregation was reduced to only 55 families. The sixth minister, the Rev William Shepherd was installed in September 1874. He left in April 1880 and was succeeded in turn by the Rev John Richard McCleery (1880-1883), Rev Edward Ekin (1884-1892), Rev William Martin (1893-1895), Rev William George Glasgow (1896-1918), Rev Franklin Sidney King Jamison (1918-1942), Rev William Wilson (1943-1959) and Rev Ronald Joseph Wilson (1960-1967). During the early years of the Rev Andrew Peden McComb (1968-1981) extensive property renovations took place; a new church hall was built in 1974 and the gallery of the church was adapted for use as a local History Gallery in 1980. Mr McComb was followed by the Rev Frank McKeown (1982-1987).

The 1858 manse at Tullyniskey, now a listed building, was sold in July 1989 and a new manse was opened in December 1990. In 1994 the Meeting House was renovated, carpeted and new heating and electrical fittings installed. A new hall and adjoining suite of rooms were opened in July 2000 and a new car park added in 2003.