Church History
. Newtownards Congregational Church is located at 93 Victoria Avenue, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT23 7ED. The Church was formed in the early 1970s when the founder members first met in the Blue Peter Cafe in High Street. Newtownards. Services were then held in the Committee Rooms of Newtownards Town Hall.
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As the church membership grew the services moved to the Londonderry Rooms in the Town Hall. The church relocated, with the assistance of the Methodists to Zion Hall in Newtownards. Some time later the church membership purchased the present church site.
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A small hall (which was the original church) was situated to the rear of the present church. It was moved from Holywood to Newtownards and erected and equipped by the church membership. (Services were held in this hall until 1978. This small hall was still in use for the weekly prayer meetings and the church organizations until 2007 when it was replaced by a new suite of halls opened in June that year.)
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Rev Kenneth Finlay laid the foundation stone for the present church on 14 June 1975. Rev William Smylie opened the church on 15 April 1978. The first minister was Rev. Clive Moore who was replaced by Rev. Frank Bennett, he was succeeded by Rev. Harry Rea in 1982.
Rev. James Logan came to the church in November 1997, he retired on 31 October 2009.
Our present Minister, Rev. Paul Acheson was installed as Pastor of the Fellowship on 30th December 2011.
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The Church Secretary is Mr. John Stewart, and the Treasurer is Mr Geoff Murray
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The Church is administered in accordance with a constitution, which establishes matters such as membership, church meetings, leadership and the use of the church premises. Details of the Covenant and Code of Doctrine can be viewed later.
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Membership:
Conditions for membership of our Church: are confession of faith in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Saviour, giving evidence of the new birth, striving to live day by day in accordance with the scriptures and an acceptance of its Constitution, Covenant and Code of Doctrine.
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Leadership:
Jesus Christ is the head of our Church.
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Here on earth the leadership of the Fellowship of Newtownards Congregational Church consists of the Minister and a Diaconate of seven Deacons, (currently there are only four serving Deacons), who are elected by the Church membership to office. A Deacon serves on the Diaconate for three years, and on retirement is eligible for re-election.
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The Diaconate appoints a Treasurer and Secretary who deal with the administration and financial matters of the Church. The Minister and Diaconate meet monthly.
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While we, as a Church, are members of the Congregational Union of Ireland we are autonomous, that is, we do not have a ruling body or Bishops as do other denominations.
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The Church Membership and the Leadership under the direction of the Holy Spirit decide all matters.