History ofRathfriland Baptist Church

1967 – 2011

Rathfriland Baptist Church Newry Street Rathfriland BT34 5PZ

Contents

Page No.

Introduction ……………………. 1

The First Members …………….. 4

New Church Hall ………………. 5

The First Pastor ……………….. 7

Opening of the New Church … 12

Induction of Pastor Rea ……… 17

Induction of Pastor Lindsay … 19

Introduction

At one of our over site meetings I was asked if I would put in writing,the history and (commencement) of the Baptist witness in Rathfriland.May I say we as Baptists are not in opposition to other evangelicalchurches in our town. In fact we work alongside them. You may askwhy Baptists? We hold to the principles of doctrine laid down by theLord Jesus Himself and practised by the early church.

The risen Lord Jesus is speaking to the eleven disciples in verses 19& 20 of Matthew’s Gospel, before he ascended back to heaven and hegives them this charge: “Go ye therefore and teach all nations”, orthe rendering is make disciples of all nations “baptising them in thename of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost”.

In Acts Chapter 2 we see the commencement of the New TestamentChurch as we know it. Peter is preaching the death, burial andresurrection of the Lord in verse 37 of chapter 2 “and when they heardthis, they were pricked in their hearts and said onto Peter whatshall we do?”

Peter said onto them “repent and be baptised every one of you inthe name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shallreceive the gift of the Holy Ghost”.

In verse 41 of chapter 2 it tells us “Then they that gladly received hisword were baptised and the same day there were added unto themabout three thousand souls.” So we as Baptists practice theordinance of believer’s baptism.

Secondly we practice the ordinance of the Lords supper, which wasinstituted on the night in which he was betrayed. He took bread andgave thanks and broke it and gave onto them saying “This is my bodywhich is given for you, this do in remembrance of me”. Likewise

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also the cup after the supper saying; “This is the new testament inmy blood, which, is shed for you.”

When we go to first Corinthians chapter 11 verse 26, Paul says; “Asoften as ye eat this bread and drink this cup (or wine) ye do showthe Lord’s death till he come.”

In Acts chapter 20 verse 7 we read that the disciples came togetherupon the first day of the week to break bread or to remember the Lord’sdeath.

We as Baptists practice what the New Testament teaches firstlyrepentance, secondly faith towards God, thirdly baptism by emersion,fourthly to remember the Lord’s death by breaking bread and drinkingwine each Lord’s Day.

To take you back to the commencement of the church in Rathfriland.It was in June 1966 when Pastor James Irvine, pastor of NewcastleBaptist Church, along with Pastor Victor McWilliams, pastor of KilkeelBaptist Church came to Edenagarry Mission Hall for a gospel mission.Edenagarry Mission Hall is situated approximately three miles out ofRathfriland on the Ballynamagna Road. Many folk travelled out fromRathfriland to these meetings. It was a mission with much blessing.God’s people were built up in their most holy faith and sinnerschallenged of their need of God’s salvation.

In the autumn of that year both pastors asked for the use of RathfrilandOrange Hall for bible readings on Sunday afternoons. These Biblereadings continued through to the spring of 1967. Many publiclyexpressed the help and encouragement these services had been tothem.

In June of that same year, 1967, both pastors came back to Rathfrilandfor a gospel mission, this time in a portable hall belonging to the Kilkeelchurch.

The late Hugh Frazer, grandfather of the present John Frazer, gavepermission to put the hall on his land, just opposite the livestock yard,the same site where the present church now stands. It was during that

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mission that some expressed the desire to commence a Baptist witnessin Rathfriland.

The mission ended around the first of July, but the portable hall remainedon the site. It was in this humble hall, the church at Rathfriland was born.We read of Christ’s humble birth, born in a manger, the church ofRathfriland was born in a borrowed hall on borrowed ground.

The door was open for the first service on the Lord’s Day morning of July15th 1967, when 15 souls gathered for worship and breaking of bread.Mr Sam Hamilton, an elder in the Newcastle church, was the specialspeaker.

The services continued on through the autumn and winter months. Canyou imagine what it was like in winter frosts with no insulation and nocarpet on the wooden floor? Many of those who came were advancingin years – it wasn’t a place for the feint hearted.

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The First Members

The little fellowship came together on the 4th January 1968 when twelvesigned the roll book. Those who signed as foundation members were:

� The late Joe McKee and his wife Hannah� The late Martha Cosgrove� The late Minnie Heslip (Wife of Hopkins Heslip)� The late Violet Stewart of May’s Corner and her daughter Irene

(Now the wife of Graham Anderson one of our church elders)� Kenneth McKinstry now a deacon in the fellowship� Isobel McCrum and her sister the late Sarah Margaret Trimble� Dickson McCrum and his wife Mary now members in the Banbridge

church� George McCrum an elder in the church

Six of the foundation members have gone home to glory to their reward,two to the Banbridge church and four remain faithful in the fellowshipafter 43 years.

This was a tremendous step of faith for those 12 foundation members.All of them came out of churches which they had been brought up in,and as I indicated earlier some advancing in years.

They continued to worship in this wooden hall on loan from Kilkeel untila new hall was purchased in June 1968 and erected on the same site.This hall was more comfortable and better finished both inside and out.

The new hall was officially opened on a lovely Saturday afternoon, the8th June 1968 by Mrs M. E. McCrum, mother of the McCrum family,previously mentioned. A large congregation gathered to witness theopening of the new hall and to take part in this historic occasion. Onthe opposite page is a copy of the invitation to the opening andphotograph of the hall.

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The New Church Hall

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Could I pay tribute to the late Hugh Frazer who gave the littlefellowship a lease on his land to erect the new hall. Not only sobut came into the gospel service on Lord's Day evenings and alsothe midweek Bible Study and prayer meeting and very often tookpart in prayer. In the year of 1982 when the church decided tobuild a more permanent building he was quite willing to sell theland.

Could I also pay tribute to the late Ian Frazer, son of Hugh whowillingly sold the church land for a car park and burial ground.Can I bring you to the present time and pay tribute to John Frazer,son of Ian and grandson of Hugh, who has given us a portion ofland to erect a new church hall. The church is greatly indebted tothese three men, who have been an immense help down theyears and we thank them in our Lord's name.

The Lord's work continued and was blest by souls being savedand coming into the fellowship. The little hall experienced oneoutstanding occasion when Miss Ella McKinstry, sister of Kennethwas married to Clifford Moorhead. Both are now members ofNewcastle church.

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The First Pastor

The little church continued to grow under faithful servants of God, whogave of their best and many happy times of sweet fellowship wereenjoyed by all when God's presence was real and God came so close.The church was greatly indebted to Pastors and lay preachers whocame along so faithfully weekby week until the church calledtheir first Pastor in 1981.

That first Pastor was MR JackAnderson from Kilkeel. Jackwas a baker by trade and hesang at gospel missionsaccompanied by Miss MaryClements also from Kilkeel.

Jack commenced his ministryby conducting gospel missions.It was at a gospel mission inthe church at Rathfriland inNovember 1980, when thechurch decided to extend acall to him to pastor the church.He graciously accepted thecall and was inducted to thepastorate on 28th February1981. The induction servicewas held in DerryneilBaptist Church toaccommodate the largegathering. Hisministry wasblest and owned by Godand the little fellowshipmatured spiritually and grew

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The Elders welcome their first pastor

In the same year (1981) planning permission was given for a new churchbuilding. This was a bold step of faith for a little fellowship, nowsupporting a full time pastor to launch out on a new building.

A few years earlier a building fund was commenced which was overand above the free will offering. The first Lord’s day of each month thebuilding fund box was left out and was generously supported. Thechurch owes a great debt to the fellowship in those early days who, notonly gave sacrificially but also were willing to give of their time and puttheir shoulder to the work in manual labour including others not affiliatedto the membership.

The building of the church was entrusted to Charles Morris and DavidBaird, who did much over and above, without charge, what their originalcontract contained. As thenew church was to be builton the site where the hallstood, the hall needed tobe removed. EnniskillenBaptist church purchasedthe hall for outreach work.I t is still in use todayhaving since been boughtby a Free Presbyterianchurch.

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Removing the old Hall

When the old hall wasremoved, it meant thefellowship had no placeto gather for worship.The over site approachedthe committee of theFriends Hall forpermission to use theirhall. This was willinglygranted. The church hadthe use of the FriendsHall from September1981 until the end ofMarch 1983 which meantall the church servicescarried on as usual withminimum disruption.

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The church was grateful to the committee and members of the FriendsHall for the kindness shown during that period. If the first wooden hallwas too cold, the Friends Hall most of the time was too warm becausethe pot bellied stove in the centre of the hall was always red hot thanksto the late Bob Davison who did the stoking.

Work commenced on the new church in the autumn of 1981 with thefoundations laid in December of that year. The men of the church alongwith Mr Jack Sneddon brought the building up to floor level.

In March of 1982 thebuilding really took offunder the expertise of MrCharles Morris and MrDavid Baird. As thebuilding progressed themen of the church put inmany hours of hardlabour, often coming inthe evening after a day'swork to use pick andshovel.

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Clearing the site for the new church

Opening of the New Church

We have paid tribute to the men for their labours, but it would be wrongto forget the sisters of the church who often after the men had finishedtook mops, buckets, vacuum cleaners and a lot of elbow grease to makethe church presentable. They have also down over the years played avital role in the life of the church. At the mid week service the sistersoutnumber the men by two to one and the Sunday school work hasbeen dependent on sisters as teachers.

Saturday 2nd April 1983 was a very special day in the history of thechurch. Twenty months of planning, hard work and sweat and comingand going were now coming to fruition. The architect of the buildingwas Mr Dickson McCrum A.R.I.B.A. (one of the foundation members)who designed the new building and gave of his services free of charge.The church is greatly indebted to him for this.

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Mr McCrum handed over the key to Mrs Madge Anderson (Wifeof Pastor Anderson) who declared the church open to the gloryof God.

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Articles in The Irish Baptist Newsletter May 1983

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After the opening a gospel mission commenced with Pastor KenHumphries and Pastor Jim Garratt. This mission was with greatreward when souls were reached with the gospel and gloriouslysaved.

Pastor Anderson continued on as pastor of the church where he hada fruitful ministry which was blessed and owned of God. Souls weresaved, baptised and brought into the fellowship.Pastor Anderson received a call from Forth Gospel Mission inScotland which he accepted and was inducted to the Ministry thereon Friday 22nd November 1985.

This found the Church vacant of a Pastor and once again relying onLay Preachers and other Pastors when available. This continued untilthe summer of 1987 when Pastor Will Hibbert was booked for a weekof Bible Ministry. Unfortunately Pastor Hibbert took ill just prior to thisengagement and sent along Pastor Edward Rea Pastor of a smallBaptist Church in Clough, County Antrim to cover these meetings.

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Induction of Pastor Rea

Pastor Rea came as a complete stranger amongst us having neverheard of him previously. However, what a rich week of meetings wereceived, so much so that the word on everyone's lips was "could wenot call him as our Pastor" The Church members met to discuss thematter and all were of one voice so a unanimous call was sent to PastorRea. After some time the church received the good news that PastorRea accepted the call.

The induction service for Pastor Rea, his wife Jean and their family washeld on Friday 4th September 1987 with the church filled to capacity.

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The church was greatly blest under Pastor Rea's ministry. He is a greatexpositor of the word of God, a workman that need not be ashamedrightly dividing the word of truth. Pastor Rea was a man with a pastor'sheart, a man who not only cared for his flock in visitation, but also forothers, who were sick, or had suffered bereavement in the Rathfrilandarea. We could say of Pastor Rea, he is a brother beloved in the Lord,not only by the Baptist family but by many in the Rathfriland district.His ministry continued in the church until the spring of 1993 when hereceived a call from Shankill Baptist Church in Belfast. After muchprayer and searching of the scriptures he felt God leading him to takethat call.

A farewell service washeld for Pastor and MrsRea on Friday 25thJune 1993.

Once again thefellowship was leftwithout a pastor. Thismeant once againrelying on laypreachers and pastorsfrom other churcheswhen available.

Could I on behalf of thechurch express ourthanks to both pastorsand lay preachers whotook charge of thepulpit for almost sevenyears. They came wellprepared and gave oftheir very best and thechurch was fed withthe finest of the wheat.

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Induction of Pastor Lindsay

t was during the winter of 1999 that the name of Keith Lindsay was firstmentioned in the fellowship. Keith was no stranger in the church as hehad often come as a boy with his mother and grandmother. Hisgrandmother Mrs Wharton still attends the church on a regular basis.Keith felt the call of God as a young man to full time service and aftercompleting his training in the Faith Mission Bible College went out asa full time evangelist with the Faith Mission. It was during this time Keithmet his wife Karen also a full time evangelist with the Faith Mission.

The church met in early 2000 to discuss the calling of a pastor. Keith'sname was put to the meeting and all agreed to forward a call to Keithas the pastor of our church.

After some time of prayerful consideration Keith felt led to accept thecall to Rathfriland. This was in answer to much prayer over the vacancy.

An induction service was held for Keith, Karen and their sons, Matthewand Jonathan on Saturday 15th April 2000.

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Keith took on his responsibility with great enthusiasm and zeal and itwas under his leadership a Good News Club commenced on Tuesdaynights. This work is still ongoing with up to forty children attending.

A meeting for young married adults also commenced twice each monthduring the winter season. Going from the young to the not so young agathering for the senior citizens is held once a month when over twentygather.

After five years as pastor of the church, Keith felt the call of God backto missionary work. Keith's ministry concluded at the end of August2005 and he is now full time with ACRE Gospel Mission.

From August 2005 until the time of writing the church is again dependenton lay preachers and pastors from other Baptist churches. These mencome well prepared and give of their best and the ministry the churchis receiving is of a very high standard. In fact the last three years havebeen the most fruitful in the churches history with nine new familiesattending on a regular basis. It is so rewarding to see almost everyseat occupied on a Lord's Day morning and we would say this is theLord's doing as is marvellous to behold.

As the church looks back over 44 years from its humble beginnings, wecan say “to God be the glory great things he hath done”.

Our prayer is that God's work will continue to prosper and grow in thedays to come, when many will be reached with the gospel and won forthe Saviour and added to the Kingdom of His dear Son.

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