Dundonald Presbyterian Church Dating From 1645 is One of the Oldest Congregations in Ireland скачать в хорошем качестве

Dundonald Presbyterian Church Dating From 1645 is One of the Oldest Congregations in Ireland

I'm standing in Church Green Dundonald Co Down. Up the hill is St Elizabeths Parish Church of Ireland and beside and slightly below it, is Dundonald Presbyterian church. ( Church on the Green ) Dundonald Prebyterian is historically significant because its Presbyterian congregation is one of the oldest on the island of Ireland. It's first minister, Scotsman Rev Thomas Peebles, arrived in Ulster in 1642 as a Chaplain to Major-General Robert Monro's army. He served as the Clerk of the Army Presbytery. On arriving in Ulster he constituted the first Presbytery in Ireland at Carrickfergus. He went on to be installed in Dundonald in 1645. He also ministered in Holywood as this was a joint charge at that time. 1704 This joint charge with Holywood was relinquished. The first undivided minister at Dundonald, the Rev James Stewart received £20 a year and 20 boll of oats and a farm for his preaching. 1769 An aisle was added to the church 1839/40 The current church opened. 1863 A National School was opened across the road from the church. Today this building serves as premises for a number of youth organisations and church office. 2016 Nearly £2 million was spent of refurbishing the church to provide a 300 seater worship centre, entrance foyer, church cafe area and various meeting rooms. At present around 350 families attend the church. *( Major-Gen Monro has come with a force of 2500 Scots soldiers to reinforce the Scots Presbyterians already there. He was opposed to Royalists and Irish Catholics in equal measure! )