Congregations of the Presbyterian Church

[Christopher]

I have been listening to an interview on Radio Ulster about the website of the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland which has been launched today. There will be more items added to this site during the coming months. http://www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com
If you've a large number of Presbyterians in your tree it might be a good idea to become a member of the Historical Society so that you can search the database for information on over 600 congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com/index.php?id=searchcongregations

[aghadowey]

Interesting website but hard to say how much information is actually available on individuals who were not clergymen. Under graveyards you can apparently search for some in co. Down but "The inscriptions from many Presbyterian churchyards have been published in one form or another. The Ulster Historical Foundation has published the inscriptions from more than 50 Presbyterian churchyards in County Down as well as several more in County Antrim. These are available on its History from Headstones Online website (www.historyfromheadstones.com). Irish World Ltd has also transcribed many gravestone inscriptions and these are available online at www.irishgenealogy.ie. A number of local historical societies have also been involved in transcribing and publishing gravestone inscriptions."

As I have the History of Congregations and supplement already will wait to see other comments before considering this option.

P.S.Christopher, once again, did you get the e-mail re Derry Genealogy Centre that I sent you on 11 Jan.? (simple yes or no will do)- if not see the post regarding the Centre.

[hallmark]

Great list, quite a few I need to look up!

[aghadowey]

To get any information you have to take out a membership but can't see exactly what sort of details they are promising for subscribing. It seems to be information on the churches themselves rather than what's in the records.

[hallmark]

Think I'll give up trying to put family tree together, it's too big and too time consuming!


Have lots of names, etc but if the information is top secret then it can stay that way!!

They couldn't be bothered making any list or leaving anything so they can stay where they are!!


Have better things to do with my time!!

[Christopher]

Over the years since 1886 many ministers and laymen including the Revd W. D. Killen (Professor of Church History at the Presbyterian College in Belfast), the Revd Dr C. H. Irwin, the Revd James McConnell, the Revd David Stewart, an editorial committee chaired by the Revd W. D. Baillie and the Revd R. Buick Knox have done a large amount of work in compiling and updating information relating to congregations in the Presbyterian Church. They, and a large number of others, deserve the thanks of people interested in tracing their ancestors as well as the thanks of those interested in the history of the Presbyterian Church.   

[hallmark]

They do indeed, just don't appreciate driving 100 mile each way in the hope that they might have something!

One of my lots as a Presbyterian Minister!

Plenty of online stuff in UK, sweet nothing here in Ireland.

[cahans]

                                                   Cahans Project
On the 10th May 1764 Rev. Thomas Clarke and almost 300 members of his Congregation walked from Cahans Church, Lisnaveane, Co. Monaghan to Newry Co. Down. There they set sail bound for New York. This is known today as "THE CAHANS EXODUS"
More information is available       http://homepage.eircom.net/~denesbitt/history.html
This beautiful church is well on its way to being restored by a small but very hard working committee and they would love to hear from anyone who may have family connections with Cahans

[hallmark]

Have heard you are doing great work and hope it all comes to fruition. The only relatives I have around there are the Swan/ns.

Will drop by in the summer to have a look around.


Best of luck!