Two years after it was totally destroyed by fire, Presbyterian Moderator Dr Russell Birney will officially open and dedicate a rebuilt Newmills Presbyterian Church outside Craigavon next Tuesday, 13 May at 7.30pm (see directions below)
Costing £650,000 of which the congregation have had to raise £250,000, the new church is about 30% bigger than the destroyed building. Externally it is in keeping with its rural setting while inside it incorporates modern design and furnishings. This ensures a bright spacious worship area equipped with up to date technology including data projection.
The new church also incorporates an extension to the old building that had just been completed prior to the fire but amazingly was not damaged. The existing church hall in which the congregation of over 200 families have worshipped since the fire is also on the same site.
"I can still vividly remember standing in the car park and watching helplessly as flames engulfed the church two years ago," says the congregation's minister Rev Gordon Best. "Since then life has been hectic as we planned how to rebuild and put those plans into action. Without doubt this whole experience has deepened our faith and reliance on God. Also people in the congregation and the community have been brought closer together and there has been great support from local people, the community and friends of the congregation around the world. We are particularly pleased that it has been designed and built by local companies too," added Mr Best. "Our Architects were Architectural Studies in Richill and Portadown contractors, ECE Contracts, the builders."
The opening service will be attended by the Mayor of Craigavon Cllr Jonathan Bell, representatives of the Iveagh Presbytery including its Moderator Rev Richard Murray and Clerk, Rev Ivan Patterson and local Church of Ireland Rector, Canon Brian Blacoe. In addition to dedicating the building Dr Birney will also dedicate many gifts of furnishings donated by families in memory of loved ones, some replacing previous gifts destroyed in the fire.
Once opened the church will be put to immediate use as a series of celebration services are planned for the remainder of the week from Wednesday 14 May to Friday 16 at 8.00pm finishing with special Sunday services on May 18 at 11.30am and 6.30pm.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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