History
(The account below has been taken from writings given to our present minister Rev R J McCullough)
"According to Samuel Miskimmin, the noted historian of Carrickfergus and district, Loughmourne Church came about in the following way.
A small congregation of Covenanters, Scottish exiles in North east Division, erected a church about 1778. The first minister was the Reverend John Paul who was born in or near Antrim in 1777. He was installed in Loughmourne on the 11th September 1805 - (who ministered to the congregation from its erection which unto then had not been named.) He had charge of the church here until his death in 1848. His grave can be seen in the bottom corner of the graveyard beside the church.
Rev Paul's successor was the Reverend William Close who was born on the 17th January 1822 and received the charge in June 1893 but retired in a short time due to ill health. His grave is convenient to the path leading to the church, and it was said (truthfully, or otherwise), that a one time sexton of the church found the reverend gentleman's grave an ideal place to tether a mother hen with her brood of baby turkeys, the surrounding kerb keeping the youngsters from straying.
A history of the congregations in the Presbyterian church in Ireland, 1610 - 1982 differs somewhat from Mr Miskimmon's version. It dates the beginning of the Congregation in 1804, as a Covenanting one under the reformed Presbyterian Synod of Ireland, and Mr john Paul (licensed Irish Reformed Presbyterian 1805) was ordained as Mr Miskimmon said on the 11th Sept 1805. In 1840 he and his congregation resigned from the Reformed Presbyterian Synod of Ireland and joined the Eastern Reformed Synod at its formation in 1842.
In 1893 negotiations for union between this body and the General Assembly proved abortive and Loughmourne then asked to be received by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Rev Paul was the author of "Refutation of Arminianism" and other theological works being described as the most philosophical of divines.
Mr William Close who was ordained on the 7th November 1848 exceeded his predecessors long ministry, differing again from what Miskimmon had to say. He led his congregation into the General Assembly in 1893. Rev Close's successor was a Baileborough licensee Mr William George Lundie, ordained on 7th December, 1897 and was called to 1st Keady on the 26th february 1903.
Around this time the Belfast Water Commissioners acquired twenty farms in the heart of the congregation's district as part of their catchment area and this weakened Loughmourne, the neighbouring Woodburn suffered in the same way thus leading to the union of the two congregations some forty five years later. Mr Samuel Mains Shaw was the next minister, he came on the 16th August 1903, remaining until his death on the 19th November 1932. His successor, a Rathfrailand licentiate Thomas john Blakley, ordained 9th October 1934, resigned on the 31st May 1952 when he was called to Canada.
Next came Mr Thomas Alexander Houston from Belfast, on 22nd of October 1952, who moved to Carryduff on the 21st May 1956. Mr John Mcfall was installed on the 1st July 1957, and on his retirement Rev Robert McCullough our present minister took over the joint congregations of Loughmourne and Woodburn.
Both churches are in good order, with satisfactory attendances maintaining the Presbyterian tradition of worship in a secular age. A notable feature of Loughmourne Church is the pulpit, the handy work of a one time member, the late John Gorman. The graveyard is the last resting place of many of the Scottish Covenanters who brought their faith to the district. "
(The above account has been taken from writings given to our present minister Rev R J McCullough)
The graveyard dates back to 1808.
The Church has a Sexton's House at the top of the path. The Sexton or Caretaker lived in this house until the 1970s. The wee house as it is now called is used for the crèche and small gatherings.
On the 1st July 1957 Loughmourne Presbyterian Church became a joint charge with Woodburn Presbyterian Church under the ministry of the Rev J A McFall. According to one newspaper report, there had been several attempts to unite the two churches before this date. The union has worked very well, with both Congregations benefiting. There is a co-operation between the two churches and many joint ventures are undertaken together. Joint Evening Worship is held in Loughmourne on the first Sunday of the month, with Woodburn hosting Evening Worship on the second Sunday.
Sunday School has always been an important part of Church life with strong attendance and good spiritual leadership.
This is a brief account of some of the history attached to Loughmourne Presbyterian Church. As I get more information I will update this page, again if you have any info or pictures that you think would be of interest, please email me through our contact page.
The Sexton's House
Old recipe book from 1948
Loughmourne Youth Fellowship pictured 1971
