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Archiver > NIR-ANTRIM > 2002-03 > 1016320464


From: "Chris Morgan" <>
Subject: Re: Millrow Presbyterian Church
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 23:14:24 -0000
References: <001901c1ccdc$f2704540$c365ff3e@default>


> Dear Chris - thank you very much for answering my question. I had already
> found the site you suggest and not found too much, for example, I was hoping
> to find an address and maybe more about its early foundation. But I will
> take another look.
> Again, many thanks, Karen

> >> I am new to this list and would like to know if anyone can tell me about
> >> Millrow Presbyterian Church - exactly where it was/is and when its
> records
> >> began. I am researching the name McMASTER and from the IGI I see that
> some
> >> McMasters were baptised, married there.
> >> Many thanks, Karen

I have found a reference that says records may survive from 1674, but that seems to be at
odds with other data available on the internet.

If you are wanting information about the actual history of the church and it's elders the
Presbyterian Historical Society might be able to help - assuming the church itself is unable
to do so. Their address is as follows, but they are primarily a charitable organisation, and
their office is only manned on a part-time basis.

Presbyterian Historical Society
Room 218
Church House
Fisherwick Place
Belfast
BT1 6DW

They published a book "A history of the congregations in the Presbyterian Church in
Ireland, 1610-1982" which I have seen on film from the LDS. It only has a page or two
about each church, so don't expect too much.

To add perspective, the 1852 Henderson's Directory of Belfast and Ulster lists only one
Presbyterian Church in Antrim town, with another then building. A far as I can see from
present day internet searches the oldest Presbyterian Church is now the one at 82 Church
Street, about which their website says "First Antrim is the oldest Presbyterian
Congregation in Antrim town, having begun in 1726. The present building was opened in
1834." (E-mail address ) That is presumably not
the one being built in 1852. Perhaps somebody in Ulster knows different? Another
Presbyterian church is at Greystone Road which opened in 1969, and there is a third,
but the address escapes me at present. Could it be the Millrow congregation? Mill row
appears in the directory several times as the residence of surgeons and solicitors, although
John H Orr*, Presbyterian Minister, was at Main Street, and Rev. Charles Morrison** was
at Ashville.

In 1841 the population of the parish of Antrim was given as 4,312, and of the town itself
2,645 - so not such a big place. That was from a total population of the County of Antrim
in 1851 (excluding Belfast and Carrickfergus) of 250,355 (down 25,833 since 1841).
"....during the disturbances of 1798 it was the principal scene of hostilities which occurred
in the county (of Antrim) and here the insurgents were defeated with great slaughter." No
McMaster's were listed in the 1852 Directory for Antrim town, or county. (There were
only 4 listed in Belfast.)


Regards

Chris Morgan

PS Just been rummaging in the depths of my Irish records! From the Fasti of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1840-70, published by the Presbyterian
Historical Society, 1986 I summarise:

*John Henry Orr, son of Dr James Orr, Greyabbey, born 26 Nov. 1826: ordained II Antrim
19 Mar 1851, married 1853 daughter of Martin Harper of Belfast, Moderator of General
Assembly 1887, died 23 Jan 1895.

The original Fasti listing those ordained before 1840 was published about 1951 by the
Society, and I extracted the following from a copy of a handwritten excerpt:

**Charles Morrison was ordained at Antrim I, 24th March 1840, married Mary Oliphant
6th Sep 1859 and died at Ventnor, Isle of Wight 3 June 1890 and interred in Edinburgh -
no doubt he was a Scot. So, he was minister at Antrim I - which must be Millrow!



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