COLERAINE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

OUR HISTORY

A Brief History of Coleraine Congregational Church

IIn 1836 the Irish Evangelical Society decided that they would send Jephson Potter one of their evangelists from the village of Cushendun to the town of Coleraine, where he would found a small Christian fellowship, later to become known as Coleraine Congregational Church.

Rev Potter was appointed as Pastor of the small community of believers, whose first meeting place was in a room in Long Commons. The fellowship began to grow in numbers, and the desire was expressed to erect a building of their own. Eventually, a Meeting House was erected in New Row in 1841, opposite where the present church stands.

In 1859, referred to as the ‘Year of Grace’, revival came to Coleraine. At that time Rev John Kydd was minister of Coleraine Congregational Church. The impact of the revival was felt all across the town and also at the Congregational Church where the membership more than doubled.

At the time of revival, plans were already being made to construct a new building which would accommodate the needs of the growing congregation. On 27th November 1860, a large crowd gathered at the building site for the laying of the foundation stone for the new building. About 18 months later on 22nd May 1862 the official opening of the new church took place.

In 2011, Coleraine Congregational Church entered its 175th Anniversary Year with a number of special events.

We as a church praise Almighty God for all His blessings and thank Him for all past ministers who have faithfully presented God’s Word to the fellowship down through many years.

This history of the church is incomplete – praise God the work continues.

‘We’ll praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that’s to come’