Encouraging and supporting new worshipping communities across Ireland.
In recent years there has been a growing desire and energy within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to see new churches planted across this island that bring new life in Christ, to new people, in new places.
To bring further momentum and focus, in 2025 PCI affirmed a vision to be embraced prayerfully, practically and prophetically by the whole Church. This conviction is a shared decade long goal captured in the following phrase:
Creating two separate categories emphasises that a goal in church planting is to support new congregations achieving full-status within PCI, while also encouraging new church planting initiatives to be imagined and realised. This vision is a declaration of forward-looking faith, as well as offering a target to pray towards and to aim for in the next decade.
Read more about the 10+10 in 10 vision in this articleOverseen by Donabate Presbyterian, this church plant was launched in 2020. Set in one of Ireland’s most ethnically diverse towns, around 25 nationalities worship together in a community centre in Balbriggan each Sunday with midweek home groups helping to strengthen fellowship.
Situated in the former May Street Presbyterian, Belfast, this church plant of Carnmoney Presbyterian has grown in recent years, particularly among younger generations. In June 2025, it was agreed that Central could progress towards full-status as a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
Click here to watch a short video featuring the work in Central
Commissioned by Hill Street Presbyterian, a launch team was formed to establish a new worshipping community in southwest Portadown. It has been meeting weekly for worship since April 2025, with much early encouragement.
This church plant began in 2021, having been established by West Kirk Presbyterian. Drawing on resources from the closure of a nearby congregation, Grace & Hope meets weekly for worship in Carlisle Circus, with a diversity of people drawn together.
Having engaged in several outreach initiatives in the town centre of Banbridge, Ballydown Presbyterian sent a church planting core team to establish ‘The Bridge’ in 2024. It meets weekly for worship in rented space in the town centre, with a number of families and young people involved.
In 2025, a new work was established in the Village area of south Belfast led by a Mission Pioneer, and supported by South Belfast Presbytery. The primary focus is on outreach and community engagement based in halls owned by Richview Presbyterian, with plans underway to establish a new worshipping community in due course.
Since 2022, a PCI minister has been serving in west Belfast and has formed a small core team under the heading ‘An Tionólann’ (or ‘The Gathering’) to help re-connect with an area where several Presbyterian congregations closed during the 1970s and 80s. Monthly worship services are taking place in An Cultúrlann, a cultural heritage centre on the Falls Road, previously Broadway Presbyterian Church, with plans to progress to weekly services in 2026.
A minister was installed to the Wexford church development project in September 2024. Since then, a weekly home group Bible study has been established, along with some outreach initiatives. Following a modest renovation of the former Wexford Presbyterian building, which closed in 2022, weekly worship services commenced in October 2025.
Click here to watch a short video featuring the work in Wexford.
A Church Planting Handbook, ‘New People, New Places’, offers guidance for individuals and congregations in PCI who would like to explore this pathway. It outlines practical next steps and shares stories of some PCI church plants.
This is a network for church planters within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. It gathers several times a year for encouragement, support and some helpful input. Here you can learn more about the network.
In some contexts, within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the groundwork for a new church plant is led by a Mission Pioneer. Head here to find out more about a pathway if you feel called to pioneering mission and church planting.
Mission Pioneers