Presbyterian Moderator, Dr David Clarke will celebrate with Stormont Presbyterian this Sunday 10 September when they officially mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the church. Dr Clarke will address the congregation during a special communion service at 11am. This event also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the ministry of Rev. Ron Savage at Stormont Presbyterian.
To mark the two anniversaries the church is holding a number of events over the coming weeks. This Saturday 9 September the church will hold a fun day for families, when the church will also be open for visitors. On Sunday 10th September, as well as the Moderator's morning visit there will be an evening praise service at 6.30pm. The following Friday 15th September a celebratory dinner will be held for past and present members and friends of the congregation.
The church currently has 560 families, with a good mix of both young and old members. The history of Stormont goes back to 1921 when the Church Extension Committee of Belfast Presbytery secured a site for a future church building at the junction of Castlehill Road and the Upper Newtownards Road. In 1927 the General Assembly gave leave for a new congregation to be erected here and on 6 September 1931, the church was officially founded.
At this time the congregation worshipped in a newly erected church hall under the guidance of Rev. William James McConnell until his retirement in 1936. The current church building was opened in 1955. Following Rev. McConnell's retirement, the church has had only two ministers, Rev. John Park who ministered there for 39 years and Rev. Ron Savage who remains minister today.
Rev Savage commented, "The theme of this anniversary is 'Moving Forward in Faith'. We are celebrating our first 75 years and are looking forward to those still to come. We are grateful to God for his guidance over many years and personally for me, the last 30 spent here especially. We are moving forward faithfully trusting that God will continue to guide us and use us in this community in the future."
Issued by Sarah Harding, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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