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The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is the largest protestant denomination in Northern Ireland with around 300,000 members and 560 congregations. It is currently administered from Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast, where it holds its annual meeting or General Assembly in June every year, though the denomination's headquarters will soon relocate following a decision in June 2005 by its governing body, the General Assembly, to sell Church House with a view to developing a new administrative centre in May Street, Belfast.
The present General Secretary is the Rev. Dr. Donald Watts.
Church House
Church House situated right in the heart of Belfast. The gothic architecture and 40m high clock tower dominate the busy junction of Fisherwick Place, Great Victoria Street, Howard Street and Grosvenor Road. Built in 1905 and opened by the Duke of Argyll, the three story building is styled on the architecture of a Scottish baronial castle while the crown on top of the tower is modelled on that of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. The bell tower houses Belfast's only peal of 12 bells.
The Scottish connection is appropriate since the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is a daughter church of the Church of Scotland. It traces its roots back to 1642 when the first organised Presbyterianism in Ireland had its beginnings among Scottish regiments stationed in Carrickfergus just 10 miles north of Belfast on the lough shore.
Church House was extensively renovated in 1992 to provide more appropriate accommodation. The ground floor is now a shopping mall while the administrative offices of the Church are on floors 1, 2 and 3. At the heart of the building is the 1,300 seater Assembly Hall, entered on the first floor with its all round gallery and pipe organ
Origins
Irish Presbyterianism had its origins in Scottish migrations to Ulster in the early seventeenth century. The first presbytery was formed in 1642 by chaplains of a Scottish army which had come to Ireland because of an Irish Catholic rebellion. In spite of this and later Catholic uprisings and the hostility of the established Anglican Church, Presbyterianism put down strong roots in Ireland before the end of the seventeenth century.
In the eighteenth century it was weakened by emigration to colonial America and by division over subscription to the Westminster formularies, which encouraged Scottish Convenanters and Seceders to form congregations and presbyteries in Ulster.
Creation of the Church
In 1840 two Presbyterian Churches, the General Synod of Ulster and the Secession Synod, came together to form the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. As well as giving thanks for 150 years of service, the General Assembly decided in 1988 to mark this anniversary by arranging a special meeting of the Assembly to look to the future. 850 elders and ministers met at the University of Ulster in Coleraine from 10th-13th September 1990 to worship, study preparatory papers, listen to lectures and take part in seminars. On the final afternoon the Coleraine Declaration was 'received' by the Assembly as a document that witnessed to some of the insights and visions gained at Coleraine. It was sent to the Boards and Committees of the Assembly, to Presbyteries and to Kirk Sessions for prayer, study, reflection and response.
The Church Today
Today the Irish Presbyterian Church, which is a founder member of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, has over 560 congregations in 21 presbyteries throughout Ireland with over 300,000 members. The Church has been much involved in education, evangelism, social service and world mission in India, China, the Middle East, Jamaica, Africa, Indonesia, Nepal and Brazil.
Worship
In our Christian worship, the preaching of the Word of God is central, in a setting of prayer and praise. There is no fixed liturgy. Prayers and hymns, psalms and paraphrases, Scripture reading and sermon are adapted to the needs of the occasion.
The Church
The word 'Presbyterian' describes the form of our Church government which emphasises the individual and corporate responsibility of members. Ministers and members must share in the organising and running of every aspect of the Church's work. Locally this means the provision of worship and teaching along with pastoral care while the corporate work of the Church involves social action, evangelism, mission at home and overseas, training of ministers and working with young people and children.
The best test of our Church and its members lies in what their faith compels them to do for others, not just what has been done for them as individuals. The King and Head of the Church loved us and gave Himself for us so that we should no longer live for ourselves. We are called to service.
Mission Statment
Received by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY at its meeting to mark the 350th anniversary of the first Presbytery in Ireland JUNE 1992
"THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND, as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable her members to play their part in fulfilling God's mission to our world.
GOD CALLS US TO A SHARED LIFE in which we love, honour and are reconciled to one another whilst respecting our diversity within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. We are called to encourage the exercise of the gifts of every member of the Body for the work of ministry and, seeking the renewal of the whole Church, to co-operate with other parts of Christ's Church without betrayal of our convictions.
GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM with our whole lives, meeting together in groups large and small and gathering especially on the Lord's Day for the preaching and study of His word, the celebration of the sacraments and the offering of prayer and praise with reverence and joy, using language, form and music appropriate both to Scripture and to our time and culture.
GOD CALLS US TO MISSION as witnesses to Christ through both evangelism and social witness challenging the values of the world in which we live with the values of God's kingdom and winning men and women to faith and discipleship. This mission is to be pursued amongst all the people of Ireland and the peoples of the European Community and the whole world: those with whom we feel comfortable, those from whom we feel alienated and those who are in any way distant from us in culture and faith.
WE OURSELVES ARE CHALLENGED with a biblical discipleship which is radical in its self denial, simplicity of lifestyle, stewardship of money, faithful relationships, prayerfulness, concern for the world which God has created and love for its people whom he loves and for whose salvation He gave his Son."
The Burning Bush
The motto of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is "Ardens sed Virens" - burning but flourishing . It is mainly seen alongside the Burning Bush, the churches symbol. A Burning Bush was included in the more modern logo of the Church at the top of the page.
Leading Presbyterian Figures
Dr Henry Cooke, 19th century Presbyterian leader
Professor J Ernest Davey, theologian and historian, acquitted of heresy charges in 1927, elected Moderator 1951
Dr Ray Davey, founder of Corrymeela Community
Dr John Dunlop, CBE, former Moderator (1992), a leading participant in Northern Ireland's civic life.
Dr Ruth Patterson, the first woman to be ordained to the ministry of the Irish Presbyterian Church
Links
Taken from the PCI Website Here.
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