Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ken Newell will visit Garnerville Presbyterian this Sunday 28 November to celebrate recent refurbishments to the church, which have been made 40 years after the foundation stone of the building was laid. Dr Newell will address the congregation at the 11.30am worship service when he will dedicate the new building work and give thanks for the last 40 years.
Garnerville began as a Church Extension cause on 4 November 1950 in a converted stable off the Old Holywood Road, in the grounds of the original Garnerville House. It was initially intended to serve a prefabricated estate off the Garnerville Road. A move to a wooden hall at the foot of Circular Road was made on 13 September 1952 as this site was considered to be more suitable.
Rev. James Stuart Pattison Black was installed as the first minister of the church in January 1953. For thirteen years the church worshipped in the wooden hall until the present site on the Old Holywood Road was chosen in 1960. The foundation stone was laid in 1964 and the building was completed in September 1965.
The recent improvements to the church, costing £81,000 have taken four months to complete and include the addition of disabled access, as well as new kitchen facilities, toilets and a new entrance to the church and halls. Next year the congregation will be holding a number of events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of worshipping together in the church building.
Garnerville consists of 370 families and encompasses a wide cross section of the community. There are many older members as well as a strong representation of families with young children - the Sunday School currently has 90 members.
Rev. Richard Hill has been minister at Garnerville for three years and highlights the importance of the renovations,
"Some of the work undertaken was to improve access to the church facilities to allow better arrangements for disabled persons to participate fully in the life of our church. We hope to continue to build on past successes by making what we do accessible to all so that the church community at Garnerville will strengthen and grow."
Issued by Sarah Harding, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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