First Ahoghill lay a foundation for the future

The site is cleared, steel structures are in place and bricklayers are working hard to ensure that the complex will be open by next autumn.

Another visible sign of progress was the special ceremony to mark the laying of the foundation stone, which took place on Saturday afternoon. This is a traditional event when a new church is built and First Ahoghill’s Clerk of Session, Joe McMullan, had the privilege of laying the stone.

Young people from the congregation also participated by forming a choir to sing: ‘The Lord is My Shepherd’

William Hood, convener of the Property Committee, read from God’s Word and the Minister, Rev. Eddie Kirk, offered a prayer before Mr. Mullan laid the stone and brought a word to the congregation. Kirsty McKay brought proceedings to a close with the beautiful solo: ‘How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place.’

Speaking to the Times before the ceremony, Rev. Kirk said: “It’s very exciting for us as a congregation to have reached this stage. We hope to open in September 2013”

“When the project is complete we will have a sanctuary that seats around 500 people, a new hall, kitchen and crèche. There will also be a youth suite, committee rooms and a large welcoming foyer, not to mention better parking facilities.

“What we as a congregation are doing will put the Church in a good position under God for the foreseeable future. However, erecting the premises that we need is much easier than building the Church, the latter is a spiritual work and only God can do it.”