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This Friday, 09-10-98, Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Dixon will see at first hand the growth of the Presbyterian Church in the North Down area over the last 50 years when he visits some of the six new congregations that have become established there since 1948.
Dr Dixon's tour begins at St Andrews congregation, Bangor, which was the first to be opened in this era in 1948. 'There has been an intensive programme of property development right across North Down since the end of the Second World War,' explained the minister of St Andrews, Rev John Parkes. 'This resulted in new estates springing up particularly around the Bangor area and the existing congregations couldn't cope. So through a process of church extension the Presbyterian Church began establishing congregations where the people were in these new build areas.'
Shortly after St Andrews was opened in the Clandeboye area, building in the Crawfordsburn Road and Carnalea areas made it a necessity for a new church there too and so Bangor West was established. Within a year this church had a membership of 130 families and two years later was able to build its own church.
Building also continued on the borders of St Andrews parish and before it was fully developed as a congregation there was an obvious need for two more churches close by in Kilcooley and Lisnabreen. A fifth new Presbyterian church was also established around the same time at the Donaghadee side of Bangor at Ballychrocan.
'This rapid establishment of churches was largely adequate in the Bangor area but more recently the focus for new build has moved to Newtownards and there we have established the Movilla congregation,' added Mr Parkes. Under the guidance of Rev David Porter this congregation and grown strongly and is now in the process of building its first permanent structure to replace temporary accommodation.
These six congregations, on average one new church every ten years, now have a membership between them of 6,000, and the story is set to continue since, during his visit which will take in St Andrews, Kilcooley and Movilla the Moderator will also hear of plans under consideration for another new church this time in the Baloo Road, Green Road area of Bangor.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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