Cullybackey Methodist congregation has an unusual history. According to an article written by Elizabeth Wiseman, the original church (pictured on this site) started life as a Presbyterian church in 1839. Presbyterianism had many schisms and this church was one of the seceding churches. In 1858 it became a United Presbyterian church and in 1890 it changed again to become part of the Free Church of Scotland, whose headquarters is in Scotland. That continued until 1922 when the Minister resigned. The Free Church of Scotland declined to send a replacement and suggested that the congregation merge with another Presbyterian church in the area. The congregation decided against that and instead all changed denomination to Methodist. It then became a Methodist church until 1969, when a new church was built nearby on Shellinghill Rd.
Some older folk in Cullybackey refer to this church as the “Scots Kirk.”
The churches records are an unusual mix of Presbyterian and Methodist. Marriages start in 1845 and are on the irishgenealogy site. The PRONI catalogue indicates baptisms start in 1839 but that does not appear to be correct. Examination of the records at the church could not find any before 1869. PRONI does not have a copy of those baptism records. They are still held by the church.
The gravestones in the churchyard have been transcribed and can be viewed on the Braid website (link available on this site).
In addition to this former Presbyterian church, Cullybackey also has a Reformed Presbyterian church and a Presbyterian church (Cunningham Memorial).
References
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Northern Ireland. Great Britain. | VIEW SOURCE |
