Mount Zion Free Methodist Church Lisbun

Mount Zion Free Methodist Church,
opened in September 1978.


Pastor Nick Serb	Pastor Nick Serb, a native of Romania, was inducted as the new minister of Mount Zion Free Methodist Church at a Welcome and Induction Service on Friday 9th February 2007.

Gregg Street, Lisburn.

Minister: Pastor Nick Serb

Telephone: 9266 5647

Sunday services:

Morning: 11.30am

Evening: 6.30pm

Website: www.fmcuk.org.uk


The original wooden church at the rear of the present church.	Notice board

HISTORY

In 1969 a group of around twenty-four believers met in the home of Mr. And Mrs. John Urey who lived in the Gregg Street area. After prayer and discussion they decided to establish a fellowship of the Westleyan tradition. On Sunday 27th April 1969, the group first met for worship in the Boys Hall, Wardsborough Road, and became known as The Lisburn Christian Fellowship.

Some months later the fellowship became part of the Free Methodist denomination. On Sunday 14th December 1969 a new Free Methodist Society came into being. The denomination has its roots in America, with doctrinal principles based on the teaching of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.
During this period the fellowship had purchased a manse in Tonagh Park, and work hand had commenced on the erection of the first church, a portable wooden structure, situated in the middle of Gregg Street on the right hand side (looking towards Hillhall Road). The new church was dedicated on Sunday 22nd February 1970, by Bishop Myron F. Boyd, U.S.A. The new fellowship took on the name of The Mount Zion Free Methodist Church.

The foundation stone of the present church was laid by the Rev. Victor S. J. Trinder, UK District Superintendent on 11th February 1978 and the church was dedicated on 30th September 1978. The church is situated 50 yards further up the street from the original site and the original wooden church was re-sited at the rear.

During the ministry of the Rev Fergus Bell (1991-1995), Mr and Mrs Urey retired and moved to Ballywalter in 1995; the congregation bought the house and it became the manse. It was rented for some time before being occupied by the Rev Dr Tom Griffith (1999-2000) followed by the Rev Joe Woods (2000-2004).

Pastor Nick Serb, a native of Romania, was inducted as the new minister of Mount Zion Free Methodist Church at a Welcome and Induction Service on Friday 9th February 2007.

Also in 2007, the old manse was demolished and the new manse at 51a Mandeville Avenue was dedicated on Sunday 17th August 2008. Although it is currently occupied by (bachelor) Pastor Serb, the new manse is soon to have a double occupancy when he marries his fiancée Michele Darragh in December 2008.

The above article was compiled largely from Mavis Heaney’s book ‘Lisburn, Life in the County Down’.