Hillsborough Free Presbyterian Church
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| Rev Gary
Goodes Minister |
Hillsborough Free Presbyterian Church, opened in September 1987. |
Minister: Rev Gary Goodes
Telephone: 9268 8446
Comber Road, Hillsborough.
Telephone Number: (028) 9267 0517
Lord's Day Services:
Morning Worship: 11.30am
Gospel Service: 7.00pm
Church Website: Free Presbyterian Church - Hillsborough
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| Notice Board at Hillsborough Free Presbyterian Church. |
Hillsborough Free Presbyterian Church elders pictured at the installation of the Rev Gary Goodes in November 2007. L to R: (seated) Trevor Hewitt (Treasurer), Rev Gary Goodes, David Williamson MBE (Clerk of Session) and Robert Murphy. (back row) Harold McKibben, Billy Foster, Desmond Wilson, Charlie Poots and Eric Spence.
HISTORY
Following a very successful Gospel Tent Mission in July 1966 conducted by the Rev. William Beattie, Hillsborough Free Presbyterian Church was formed in September of that year and the first Sunday services were held in the old Edenticullo Band Hut on the Ballynahinch Road. A portable hall was constructed in March 1968. The Rev. Dr. Stanley Barnes was installed as the church’s first minister in in October 1972; previously they had two student ministers, Mr. Gordon Cooke and Mr. Ian McVeigh. Under Mr. Barnes’s leadership the church continued to grow and in June 1974 a new church building was opened. Thoughts of building a Sunday school complex were superseded by the idea of building a second church. Work commenced in March 1984 and the new church, which seats 750, was opened in September 1987.
After 35 years as minister of Hillsborough Free Presbyterian Church, the Rev Dr Stanley Barnes preached his final services on Sunday 28th October 2007 and a farewell service marking his retirement was held on Tuesday 30th October.
The Rev Gary Goodes, formerly minister of Portavogie Free Presbyterian Church, was installed as the new minister of Hillsborough Free Presbyterian Church at an Service of Installation on Thursday 29th November 2007.
A book compiled by David G. Browne in 1987, gives a more detailed history of the church. To read the book online, click on: An Anniversary History 1966-1987. Hillsborough Free Presbyterian Church.
Brief history as recorded in a book ‘Lisburn’s Rich Church Heritage’ by John Kelly
Following a very successful gospel Tent Mission in July 1966 conducted by the Rev William Beattie, Hillsborough Free Presbyterian Church was formed in September of that year and the first Sunday services were held in the old Edenticullo Band Hut on the Ballynahinch Road. A portable hall was constructed in March 1968. Dr Stanley Barnes was installed as the church’s first minister in October 1972; previously they had two student ministers, Mr Gordon Cooke and Mr Ian McVeigh. Under Dr Barnes’s leadership the church continued to grow and in June 1974 a new church building was opened. Thoughts of building a Sunday school complex were superseded by the idea of building a second church. Work commenced in March 1984 and the new church, which seats 750, was opened in September 1987. After 35 years as minister, Dr Barnes retired in October 2007. The present minister, the Rev Gary Goodes, was installed on 29th November 2007.
