NEW MINISTER INSTALLED AT DROMARA REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
THE Rev. Geoffrey Allen was recently installed as the new minister of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Allen, son of former Presbyterian Moderator, the Very Rev. Dr. Harry Allen, succeeds the Rev. John Hawthorne, who moved to Dervock Reformed Presbyterian Church in April 2006.
Moderator, the Rev. David Fallows, led the service and Dromore Reformed Presbyterian Church minister, the Rev. David McCullough, convenor of the vacancy, was the preacher.
Members of the church's Eastern Presbytery conducted the act of installation. Taking part were the Rev. Prof. Robert McCollum (Lisburn), the Rev. Andrew Kerr (Knockbracken) and the Rev. Prof. David McKay (Shaftesbury Square).
The Rev. Harry Coulter (Carrickfergus) gave the charge to the new minister and the congregation.
During the service Clerk of Presbytery, Mr. John McEwen, gave a brief history of the church, the Reformed Presbyterian congregation of Dromara having been formed, he said, in 1874.
A deputation of the congregation petitioned the Eastern Presbytery on February 16, 1874 and a Committee of Presbytery met the people at Dromara on March 9 and March 18, 269 people applying for membership.
On 5 July 1874 the first church building, a temporary wooden structure seating 600 people, was opened and the first minister, the Rev. Torrens Boyd, was instrumental in having the church building and manse erected in 1876, having twice travelled to America to raise money for the buildings.
The first elders, elected on 26 July 1874, were Richard Copeland, James Bryson and Robert Mack. Since it was established, eight ministers have served the congregation ahead of the newly installed Mr. Allen, Mr. Boyd having been their minister twice. They were Mr. Boyd (1875-1890), the Rev. John McKee (1891-1897), Mr. Boyd (1898-1907), the Rev. William Warnock (1908-1923), the Rev. Alexander Gilmour (1924-1952), the Rev. J. Renwick Wright (1953-1968), the Rev. Robert Hanna (1969-1988), the Rev. Robert Robb (1990-1991) and Rev John Hawthorne (1993-2006).
Following the service supper was served, during which the new minister spoke of his appreciation to the members of the Eastern Presbytery for conducting the service of installation and the very clear challenge from the word of God.
He thanked everyone who had made the evening possible and those who had come to support the congregation of Dromara.
Mr. Allen noted the kindness already shown to his family by the members of Dromara and recognised the love and support he had received from his wife Donna and children Chloe and Ethan.
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Weather for Banbridge
Thursday 24 May 2012
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