Moderator officially opens new halls at Drumbo Presbyterian

At the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of Drumbo Presbyterians new church halls are (LtoR) Drumbo Elder Denis Currie, architect Jonathan Todd, Presbyterian Moderator Rt. Rev. Dr. Frank Sellar, Mark Crowe of contractors ME Crowe Ltd and the Minister of Drumbo Presbyterian Church, Rev. Adrian McLernon.

According to Church News Ireland, the service was attended by members of the congregation, as well as a number of local political and community representatives.

Speaking to members of the congregation and guests on Saturday, Dr. Sellar expressed his admiration for those who had worked so hard to bring the project to fruition and encouraged the congregation quoting from Romans 12 verses 11 and 12. “This is a special day in the life, ministry and witness of the Church in this village and surrounding area and it is a privilege to be here with you,” Dr. Sellar said.

“In days of bewildering change within contemporary society, the church has a specific role to radiate the love of Christ and bless the community in which it is set. So can I encourage you in the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘Never be lacking in zeal, to be aglow with the Spirit and to serve the Lord’ as this new chapter opens in Drumbo.”

The new church halls at Drumbo Presbyterian. Pics courtesy of Church News Ireland

The £815,000 new building has four meeting rooms that will seat between 20-60 people, a sports facility and café lounge area and will be used by various organisations that used the old halls. User groups will include the Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade and local community groups.

Drumbo’s minister, Rev. Adrian McLernon, explained that the new halls follow in the tradition of the previous building on the site, as a place not just to be used by the church but by the local community.

“Way back in 1894 the Presbyterian Church in Ireland built a school on the site that was managed by the Church until it came under the control of the old Stormont Government in the 1920s. The school was opposite the church in Drumbo and when in the 1950s the children left for a new school we received the building back.

“For more than 50 years we used it, as did the local community, but in later years it really needed a lot of upkeep, so in 2013 we took the decision knock it down and rebuild.

“When we started this project we looked at the minutes from the 1890s to see what was said about the decision to build the school. The reason was ‘to build a school for the community and large enough to facilitate the church’s need.’

“In many respects, nothing has changed. Today we celebrate a new phase in the life of the village and the story of our church, as our new building continues being a part of the community to the honour and glory of God in this place. We are very grateful that the Moderator was able to dedicate and officially open it for us.”

The first Presbyterian Church in Drumbo was established in 1655. The current church, which dates from 1882, has 300 families drawing around 800 people from Drumbo itself, Dromore, Hillsborough, Lisburn and Carryduff.

The Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Brian Bloomfield MBE, spoke on behalf of the elected representatives present, which included fellow councillors, MLAs and the local Member of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.