Our History

1770

Our congregation was originally part of a union with a Randalstown Burgher congregation (now 2nd Randalstown), and first met in Ahoghill around 1770.

1774 May

On the 16th May 1774 the Randalstown Church petitioned the Presbytery of Moira and Lisburn for Supply of Sermon. This was granted, with the minister having to preach in Randalstown or Ahoghill.

1775 January

Rev. William Holmes was installed on 11th January 1775.

1780 October

Rev. Thomas Smith was ordained on 12th October 1780 but he became involved in the Rebellion of 1798 and emigrated to America in 1799. His resignation ended the union with Randalstown, as the congregations became separate charges.

1799

Various disagreements caused about half of the congregation to leave. This group of Anti-Burghers would later build their own church in the village, and eventually become known as Trinity Presbyterian Church.

1800 December

Rev. John Marr was ordained and installed on 6th December 1800, his ministry continued for forty-three years until his death on 3rd February 1844. He was buried in his family plot in our grave yard.

1845 May

Rev. Stewart Fullerton was ordained and installed to what was then known as Third Ahoghill on 7th May 1845, he was removed as minister of the congregation by Synod on 11th August 1857.

1858 March

Rev. James McClure Abernethy was ordained and installed on 25th March 1858, and after a year of ministry left for service with the Colonial Mission in Australia on 26th April 1859.

1859 Spring

The spiritual awakening of the Ulster Revival swept through Ahoghill, with many souls being drawn to Christ and lives transformed.

Church attendance increased dramatically in the village, historians report that “the three Presbyterian churches in Ahoghill are full; and the Second and Third are contemplating large additions to their accommodation.”

Records show thirty-four new communicants were added to our congregation.

1859 December

Rev. Robert Mitchell was ordained and installed on 14th December 1859 and remained until 28th May 1900. He died aged 74 on 8th June 1901 and was buried in our grave yard.

1875

Brookside Presbyterian Church choir around 1875.

1880s

The earliest known photograph of our meetinghouse.

1900 November

Rev. Robert Hugh Wilson was ordained and installed on 8th November 1900 and ministered 12 years before he was called to St. James, Ballymoney, on 28th May 1912.

1909

Synod granted a request to change the name of our church, and referred the decision back to the congregation. Third Ahoghill became known as Brookside.

1912 October

Rev. Thomas Moore was ordained and installed on 1st October 1912 and remained until 1st December 1916 when he received a call to Trinity Church, Prince’s Park, Liverpool.

1917 May

Rev. William John McGeagh was ordained and installed on 31st May 1917 and resigned on 3rd February 1920, having accepted a joint charge to First and Second Moneymore.

1920 June

Rev. David McConnell was installed on 29th June 1920 but was tragically killed aged 56 as the result of a road accident on 15th December 1931. His body was laid to rest in our grave yard.

1930s

An aerial photo of Ahoghill shows Brookside (top right)

1932 July

The Rev. Adam Alexander Gilmore Kirkpatrick was installed on 27th July 1932, and although crippled with arthritis for many years, he was a faithful pastor until his retirement on 31st March 1954.

He was laid to rest in our grave yard following his death on 8th December 1968.

Our church choir with Rev. Kirkpatrick.

1954 October

Rev. James Wilson McAuley was ordained and installed in Brookside on 7th October 1954. He resigned to go to Nelson Memorial congregation, Belfast on 20th March 1960.

1960 October

Rev. James Alexander Matthews was ordained and installed on 5th October 1960 and remained until 27th April 1971 when he resigned to become minister of First Lurgan.

1962

An aerial photo of Ahoghill shows all three Presbyterian meetinghouses in the village, with Brookside top centre.

1963

1968

The construction of a new church hall was completed.

1972 March

Rev. Ivan Alexander McKay was installed on 23rd March 1972. He had a long and fruitful ministry and saw considerable growth in the size of the congregation before resigning on 26th May 1996 to go to Dundonald congregation in Belfast.

1975

The original stonework of the meetinghouse is revealed during renovation works.

1976 April

The church building was reopened after extension and renovation works were completed.

1989

Former minister Rev. James Alexander Matthews was elected as Moderator of the General Assembly.

1997 May

Our fourteenth minister Rev. David McGaughey commenced his ministry on Sunday 18th May 1997 and exercised a faithful preaching and teaching ministry until his resignation on 26th October 2007.

2003

Former minister Rev. Ivan McKay was elected Moderator of the General Assembly.

2005

An extension to the church halls complex was completed and was opened by The Very Rev. Harry Uprichard, then Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and minister of neighbouring Ahoghill congregation Trinity.

Our church choir inside the meetinghouse.

2008 September

Rev. William Moody was installed in Brookside on 19th September 2008, and continued the faithful preaching of God’s Word.

2009

A new manse was built for the arrival of Rev. Moody and was completed in the summer of 2009.

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