Big thank you from Lisburn.com

Hillsborough Elim Pentecostal Church

The refurbished Church Worship Centre.
The refurbished Church Worship Centre.
James Ritchie (Pastor) and Rev. Alistair Ritchie (Associate Pastor) pictured with elders Stephen Robinson (left) and Brian Jennings (right). 
James Ritchie (Pastor) and Rev. Alistair Ritchie (Associate Pastor) pictured with elders Stephen Robinson (left) and Brian Jennings (right). 
Mrs Lois Cregan, a long serving member of the Hillsborough fellowship, who performed the re-opening of the refurbished Church Worship Centre in February 2009 is pictured with her son Irwin and grandson Andrew. Also included are Pastor James Ritchie and his wife Vanessa (left) and Associate Pastor Alistair Ritchie and his wife Alison (right). 
Mrs Lois Cregan, a long serving member of the Hillsborough fellowship, who performed the re-opening of the refurbished Church Worship Centre in February 2009 is pictured with her son Irwin and grandson Andrew. Also included are Pastor James Ritchie and his wife Vanessa (left) and Associate Pastor Alistair Ritchie and his wife Alison (right). 
Sunday Worship 
Sunday Worship 

Moira Road, Hillsborough.

Pastor: Rev. James Ritchie

Telephone: 9261 0547

Associate Pastor: Alistair Ritchie

Sunday services:

Morning Family Worship: 11.00am

Evening Evangelistic Service: 6.30pm

Website: www.hillsboroughelim.com

HISTORY

The Hillsborough Elim Church began with about half-a-dozen families who for around ten years had been gathering for house meetings under the leadership of Mr. R. J. Robinson (Sen.) whose desire it was to see an Elim Church established in Hillsborough.

A temporary wooden structure Hall, supplied by Pastor Eric McComb (Superintend, Elim Churches, Ireland) was erected on the site of the present Church and in early 1981 a Gospel Mission was conducted. Following the mission a larger wooden building was erected and became the first home of the newly established Elim Church. This part of the building continues to be used for the busy bees Playgroup, Sunday School and as Church Halls.

On 30th June 1984 the first phase of the worship centre was opened. The Church continued to grow and in May 1987 the second phase was completed. In 1988 the large sports hall was added to the complex and in that same year the very first Annual Hillsborough Bible Week was held and continues to be one of the largest Bible Weeks in the Province.

Pastor Robert Robinson continued as Pastor until the early 1990s when Pastor David Blake became the Churches second minister and served until May 2000. In October 2000 James (Jimmy) B.D. Ritchie was appointed and installed as Pastor. Church growth continued and improvements were made to the sports hall and a new youth lounge was added. In June 2004 Alistair J. Ritchie was appointed as Associate Pastor.

Today the Church has a thriving youth work and is known for its musical ministry led by the Churches Musical director Stephen Robinson. Right from the outset Hillsborough Elim has been know as a family Church and seeks to minister the life-changing gospel to the whole family.

For more information about Hillsborough Elim Pentecostal Church, visit the churches website at: www.hillsboroughelim.com

Brief history as recorded in a book ‘Lisburn’s Rich Church Heritage’ by John Kelly

The Hillsborough Elim Church began with about six families who for around ten years had been gathering for house meetings under the leadership of Mr R J Robinson (Sen). A temporary wooden hall was erected on the site of the present church and in early 1981 a gospel mission was conducted. Following the mission a larger wooden building was erected and became the first home of the newly established Elim Church. In June 1984 the first phase of the worship centre was opened and in May 1987 the second phase was completed. A large sports hall was added to the complex in 1988 and in that same year the first Annual Hillsborough Bible Week was held. The present pastor, James Ritchie, was installed in October 2000 and Alistair Ritchie was appointed as Associate Pastor in June 2004. In June 2008 Rhoda Wallace was appointed as the church’s full time Youth Worker and Creative Arts Director to work in the church and in the schools. Under Pastor Ritchie’s ministry the church growth continued and improvements were made to the sports hall and a new youth lounge was added. Major refurbishment commenced in August 2008 of the Church Worship Centre, office suite, parenting room, vestry and main foyer and the building was re-opened on 21st February 2009 by Mrs Lois Cregan, a long-serving member of the Hillsborough fellowship.

Hillsborough Elim Church’s vision is to “help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus”. They achieve this through their ethos, which is “Building Bigger, Working Together, Reaching Further”