Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Ken Newell will this week launch a new book celebrating the history of Presbyterians in Cork. The launch will take place in Trinity Presbyterian Church, Cork on Saturday 2 October at 6.00pm.
Presbyterians in the City of Cork by Rev. Alexander Cromie charts the story of Presbyterians in its most Southern outpost over three centuries. Rev. Cromie who is now 93 years of age was minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Cork from 1950 to 1955 and so he is very much a part of the history he writes about.
The first Presbyterian congregation in the city dates back to 1675 when a 'meeting house' was built in Princes Street, where it still exists today as Cork Unitarian Church. The history of Trinity Presbyterian Church is also outlined from its origins, meeting first in a Baptist meeting house in Tuckey Street to its building in Queen Street and finally to its site on Summerhill North in 1861.
The book highlights the difficulties of building a Christian community in Cork as people have moved to the city because of work, but then have been just as likely to move away for the same reason. The Church of today in Cork now finds itself to be a Church of many nations, welcoming asylum seekers, language and other students and workers, reflecting the changes that have taken place in Ireland's society in recent years.
Rev. John Faris, minister of Trinity Presbyterian, Cork expressed his delight at the publication of the book, "Presbyterians in the City of Cork is a remarkable book written by a remarkable man. Few of us if we were to pass the mark of 90 years would commit ourselves to the labour which has produced this fine book. I thank Alex Cromie and those who helped him in this labour of love." He is keen to point out the benefit of looking to the past to see what has been achieved but equally how the Presbyterian churches in Cork must look to the future to assess the work that still needs to be done, "The social and political context of Cork is now so different from the experience of many whose lives are recorded in this book but the spiritual needs of people remain the same."
Copies of the book are available from Wesley Owen, The Spires, Fisherwick Place, Belfast priced £10 or directly from Rev J Faris, 63 Rochestown Rise, Cork. Please make cheques payable to 'Trinity Presbyterian Church Cork' for 17 Euros.
Issued by Sarah Harding, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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