Long journey 'home' begins

For almost eight years the congregation of the city's foremost Presbyterian Church, the second oldest in Ireland, have been displaced because of the deteriorated state of the building. In the interim the church population has utilised Carlisle Road Methodist Church as their temporary home.

However, following the recent awarding of a 1.6 million grant from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency work has recently begun to restore the magnificent 17th century church to its former and proper glory.

Whilst currently the scaffold clad edifice of the building indicates that the restoration project began in earnest some weeks ago, Sunday's service marked the beginning of the journey back to Magazine Street and the mood amongst the congregation and their Minister, Reverend Dr David Latimer, was certainly one of celebration.

The scaffolding, however still does not disguise the splatters of paint bombs, often accompanied by petrol bombs, that still mark the large wooden doors of the church - the unfortunate hallmarks of sectarian attacks that have beleagured First Derry over the years. But, with the completion of the rebuilding project it is hoped that the return of the congregation will not be the only fresh start.

As the time for the start of Sunday's service began, a gradual increase in the sound of human voices could be heard in Butcher Street. It was the congregation, well in excess of 500 people, who had paraded from the Carlisle Road service. It was a heartening sight as they turned the corner into Magazine Street led by Reverend Latimer. What was immediately evident was the fact that here was a church body that was vibrant and confident that at last they were nearing the return to their own church. Striking too, was the fact that this congregation encapsulated all ages as toddlers, pensioners and all ages in-between took up position on the City's walls.

In fact, such was the strength of the crowd that Reverend Latimer had to stand high on one of the plinths of a set of steps leading onto the walls to address his congregation.

Celebrate

Dr Latimer began the service by saying: "We are here to celebrate this wonderful moment in the history of our church. This journey back began when the package of funding was put in place and when we were highly favoured by Derry City Council and by cross-party support. And, at Stormont we have had our local political representatives - William Hay, Mark Durkan and Martin McGuinness who were all willing to help secure the huge amount of money of 1.6 million.

"The result is that we can meet here today to celebrate this defining moment in the history of this old church which on this site dates back to 1690."

Queen Mary

At the heart of Presbyterian worship in Londonderry, the site of First Derry was indeed established in 1690 when a grateful Queen Mary granted money for the establishment of a meeting place in recognition of Londonderry's part in the Williamite Wars - particularly of course during the Siege of the city. Indeed, most of the vaunted Apprentice Boys who locked the gates of the City against the Jacobite forces were of Presbyterian stock. The church was rebuilt on a much grander scale in 1777 with the present frontage of the building being added in 1903.

In fact First Derry (which also hosts the congregation of Claremont Presbyterian Church) has also got some very historic neighbours. The Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall, designed by local architect John Guy Ferguson opened up in the mid 1870s and close by is what is now Society Street, Londonderry's famed playwright, George Farquhar was a pupil at the school founded in 1617 by Mathias Springham.

Sprigham, Master of the Merchant Tailor's Company set up a free school in "the honour of God and the spreading of good literature."

Farquhar, born in Shipquay Street in 1678, may well have witnessed the tumultuous events of the Siege of Derry. Indeed, his final play, 'The Beaux Strategem' deals with some of the issues experienced in these traumatic times.

Just feet away from this is St Augustine's Church believed to be the site of the original Abbey founded by St Columba. When Sir Henry Dowcra came to 'settle' the City in 1600 it was noted in his narration that a hospital and lodgings were made amongst the ruins of the old abbey and he and his people used the old church for worship. By 1633 the new cathedral church had been built and the congregation moved from " The Wee church" and it is believed that it was then used by the Presbyterian people during the great siege of 1689.

Therefore, when the congregation return to First Derry Presbyterian Church they will again take their place back in one of the City's most historic streets.

Before Sunday's service on the walls completed and the congregation Reverend Latimer led the congregation in saying the Lord's Prayer and accompanied by an ensemble from the Hamilton Memorial Flute Band, 'Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah'.

On their return to Carlisle Road Methodist Church the congregation returned to the pews to conclude the service and to participate in the offering, which impressively amounted to almost 20,000.

Reverend Latimer said: "Not only did the congregation turn out for this historic event in large numbers - they contributed ever so generously to the minister's appeal for financial support.

"The service ended with the congregation heartily singing the Doxology, after which they enjoyed a finger buffet provided as a gift to the congregation by Jack Glenn of Adair and Neely Funeral Directors."