Memorable service as Dungiven Church celebrates 175 years

Many former members made the return visit to join with present members and visitors from neighbouring churches. It was on February 3 1835 that the Secession Synod gave permission for a Presbyterian church to be formed in Dungiven, meeting in what is known today as the Guildhall on New Street. On July 1 1835 the Synod of Ulster gave permission for another prebyterian church to be former in the town, The two churches amalgamated on March 1 1849 and the first minister of the congregation being Rev Thomas Heron. There have been eight since, the longest serving of which was Rev Thomas Davison (1845-1905). Currently the congregation meets in what was previously 2nd Dungiven Presbyterian Church, with the Guildhall serving as a church hall for the congregation's youth organisations. The special preacher for the occasion of the 175th anniversary was the Moderator of the General Assembly,, the Right Rev Stafford Carson BSc MA MAR MTh DD. The service was conducted by the minister of the congregation, the Rev Clive Glass BSc PhD. Also taking part were the choir, who sang an introit ;Let Every Heart Rejoice and Sing' and an anthem called 'Let the Earth Resound'. The Semple, the Clerk of Session read the Scripture reading from Phil1.27.

A special feature of the evening was the launch of the church's new history book 'Presbyterianism in Dungiven 1835-2010' by Norman Thompson and Lily Young. Norman Thompson was an elder in Dungiven with a passion for church history. Sadly he died before the original book covering the first 150 years of the church's history was completed in 1986. Lily Young finished the book off then and was asked by the Committee of the congregation to update the book in time for the church's 175th anniversary. During the service the Moderator was presented with a copy of the history and remarked upon the influence of one of Dungiven's sons had upon his life and ministry - the Rev S E M Brown. He then presented Mrs Clare Thompson and Miss Lily Young and signed copies of the book and thanked them for Lily's endeavours and those of Clare's husband Norman. Following a delightful supper served by the ladies of the congregation, Dr Glass presented a gift of an oak bowl to the Moderator. Dr Carson thanked the congregation for the gift and Mrs Patricia Carson was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Mrs Margaret Glass. Dr Glass also presented Miss Lily Young with a gift from the congregation in recognition of the amount of f hard work she had put in to preparing the churches new history book. Copies of the book are now available and can be bought at 7.50 by contacting Dr Glass on 028 777 41238. All proceeds from the book are going to the church's Missionary Support Fund.