History of the First Presbyterian (Non-Subscribing) Church, Downpatrick

The meeting house of the First Presbyterian (Non-Subscribing) Church in Downpatrick was opened in 1711 at the start of the ministry of the Rev Thomas Nevin. Recognised as one of the most significant architectural examples of the T-shaped meeting-house in Ireland the building this year celebrates 300 years of continuous worship and witness.

To mark the tercentenary of the church building the congregation have published the History of the First Presbyterian (Non-Subscribing) Church Downpatrick. Written and compiled by Mary Stewart, the church secretary, the book is a remarkable record of three centuries of church life in the historic building. The book details the history of the congregation in the context of Downpatrick and Irish Presbyterianism, the conflict between subscribers and non-subscribers in the 18th century, the history of the building, the congregation’s engagement with education and much more. The book includes biographies of all the ministers of the congregation going back to the 17th century, extracts from the records of the Synod of Ulster, accounts of services, special events and financial matters, and contains details of committee and session members over the centuries, lists of members going back to the 1860s, and a complete record of all the graveyard inscriptions. It will be valued by all those with an interest in Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church history, local history, and genealogy.

Containing 408 pages and over 150 illustrations and bound in a full colour hard-back cover the book is excellent value at only £15. Please make cheques payable to ‘First Presbyterian (Non-Subscribing) Church, Downpatrick’.

Books are available from the church cost £15 and if posted an extra £5 for p&p.

For details email nspresb@hotmail.com

Our minister, the Rev Dr David Steers has been minister of the churches of Downpatrick, Ballee and Clough since 2003. He is a graduate of the Universities of Oxford, Manchester and Glasgow and is a former member of the Council of the International Association for Religious Freedom. He is the editor of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian magazine and has contributed to a number of publications including the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and the Thoemmes Dictionary of Irish Philosophers. He is married to Sue and has four children.