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Glastry Presbyterian Church near Newtownards will celebrate the re - opening of a unique meeting house this Sunday, 31st October 1998. Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Dixon will take part in the service at 2.30pm which also sees the dedication of gifts presented to the congregation.
During their recent process of extensive renovation and extension, the Church revealed some unusual facts which had hitherto only been suspected! When slates were removed remnants of thatch demonstrated that the original roof was entirely composed of thatch. Indeed, the roof itself was blown completely away in the night of the "Big Wind" 9th January 1839. The situation was obviously remedied with haste - modern day experts describe the current pews and pulpit as Victorian in origin.
Under the vestibule built around the same time, was a small cellar which housed a boiler fired by coke. The flue went up the gable of the vestibule and keen eyed members of Glastry remember the little turret which served as a chimney stack. In later years it has served as a nesting site for a pair of jack daws!
In 1977 the congregation celebrated the Bicentenary of the present Church building by renovating the Manse for the beginning of the ministry of Rev Trevor Williamson and since early 1997 have concentrated on the development of a new hall, roof renewal and re - plastering.
As well as minister of Glastry, Rev Williamson is the Convener of the Presbyterian Church Architecture Committee. He comments:
"Our ancestors in the faith, down the generations have not been afraid to modify in order to cope with the needs of time. We trust, under God, that we have followed in their path and have been able to bring into being, facilities which will be useful for generations to come."
Issued by Martin McNeely, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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