History is made at First Ahoghill

Erected at a cost of £2.5 million, the structure was opened by Mr Tommy Boyd, the fellowship’s Senior Elder.

Afterwards, the congregation participated in a rousing Service of Thanksgiving, which opened with the beautiful choir introit: ‘This Is Your House.’ The fellowship then joined together with one voice to sing Psalm 100: ‘All People That On Earth Do Dwell.’

Young soloist, Erin Gilmer brought glory to God by singing the uplifting piece: ‘I Am So Excited.’

Subsequently, the assembly echoed her sentiments by praising the Saviour in song with ‘My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness.’

After the scriptures were read, the anthem, ‘Built On A Rock’ filled the Church before the body of God’s people praised him with’ ‘Lord For The Years.’

Moderator of the General Assembly, Rt. Rev. Rob Craig had the privilege of delivering the sermon on what was a historic day for First Ahoghill Church and the village as a whole.

The Rousing anthem ‘Lord, Lead Us On’ followed before the service closed with Stuart Townend’s classic song: ‘O Church Arise’ and the benediction.

Work on the new facility began in June 2012, but has been some five or six years in planning.

Minister, Rev. Eddie Kirk remembered: “About nine years ago, just after I came to first Ahoghill, we had a Presbytery Consultation which highlighted the many shortcomings of our current building by way of disability access, parking, kitchen and toilet facilities etc.”

Revealing more about the state-of-the art premises, Rev. Kirk continued: “Within the new building is a new meeting house with a gallery. It will seat about 520 people, which is about 100 less than our old church.”

He added: “There is a large multi-purpose hall, which will be called the Lyle Hall in memory of a former minister, Rev. John Lyle, who ministered in the congregation from 1946 to 1986.

“We have a minor hall which will be called the McMeekin Room where our midweek meetings will be held. This is in memory of the previous minister Rev. Dereck McMeekin, who ministered in the congregation for 13 years and put a tremendous emphasis on prayer and mission in his time here.”

In addition, there is a large youth suite upstairs and a number of different sized rooms for Sunday school and all the various organisations.

Rev. Kirk continued: “We have a central kitchen, coffee bar, creche, mum and baby area, minister’s room and choir room. There is also a large area for car parking. All of us who have seen the building are very pleased with both the design and the standard of workmanship.”

Talking about the benefits that that having such a ‘warm and welcoming’ place of worship will have, Rev. Kirk went on to say: “The foyer is huge with a coffee bar where parents who are dropping off their children can come in and sit down and relax and we have the opportunity to sit down and talk to them. All the organisations will have greatly enhanced facilities.”

“In the autumn, we hope to start up a new Girls Brigade company and also a Junior Youth Club on a Saturday night. It is our prayer that the Lord would draw more of the community in under the sound of His Word Sunday by Sunday”, the Minister added.

Appropriately, Rev. Kirk concluded by thanking those who, in human terms, played a part in making the new build possible.

He said: “I would like to pay tribute to every member of the property committee, both past and present, for the countless hours of time that they put into this project under the chairmanship of Mr. William Hood. The congregation owes them a great debt. And yet, the work was a great joy to them and done with a willing spirit.”

The new First Ahoghill Church building will be open for public viewing on Tuesday 10th September from 2pm-5pm and from 7pm-9pm.

It will be open again on Saturday 14th September from 2pm-5pm.