FIRST DROMORE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (1660-1918)
First Dromore traces its origins back to 1660. It appears they had no Meeting House at this time, but one was built around 1670. The building was probably made with mud walls, whitewashed inside and out with a thatched roof.
The first minister of the congregation was Rev. Henry Hunter, a Scotsman from West Kilbride in Ayrshire.
The congregation was without a minister around the time of the Revolution of 1689 and the congregation, like many others was unsettled for a number of years.
The controversy over the subscription to the “Westminster Confession of Faith” was to split the congregation in the early years of the 18th century. The majority of the congregation wished to have as their minister the Rev. Alexander Colville. He refused to subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and a sizeable minority took this as a sign of error. The majority under Mr. Colville refused to allow the minority to worship in the Meeting House on the hill and they were forced to hold their services in an old kiln at the head of Rampart Street. The Colville party eventually removed themselves to a Meeting House on Pound Street and the minority re-established themselves at the Meeting House on Diamond Road under the stewardship of Rev. James Allen.
During the latter half of the 18th century, little is known about the congregation, except to say that it appears to have flourished.
During the years 1815 to 1837 the church building was enlarged, largely at the expense of the minister the Rev. James Collins. A record at the Ulster Folk Museum, dated 1837, describes the building as a whitewashed, rough-cut edifice with accommodation for 1,200 and an average attendance of 700.
A Presbytery Visitation in 1846 found a Kirk Session of 8 overseeing a congregation of some 400-500 communicants.
It was about this time, also, that the Sunday School Movement began. In 1837 some members met with the minister and together they established a Sunday School.
First Dromore became involved also in secular education and a school building was erected in the 1860’s. At one stage the school employed 3 teachers with the minister acting as manager. The school continued until the 1930’s. In 1936 the local Church schools amalgamated to form Dromore Central School.
The years between 1863 and 1907 saw a settled period in the life of the congregation. This was under the pastoral care of Rev. James Kirker Strain. It was during this period that the congregation provided a manse for the use of the minister and his family. The erection of a manse had been suggested by Presbytery in 1863, but it was not constructed until about 1878. This manse was occupied by the ministers of the congregation until 1996. The Meeting House was also improved. The outside staircases to the gallery were removed, and porches and safety staircases were installed. A central heating system was also installed in 1895.
The years from 1907 to 1917 were both unsettled and changeable. A succession of three ministers occupied the pulpit. In February 1913 Rev. Thomas Doey was installed as minister and almost immediately an idea, which had been raised in the past, was once again raised. The congregation decided to proceed with the erection of a new Church building. The architects estimated the cost to be £4,500. A design was sought, and, after visits to several churches in Belfast and east Antrim, the committee decided to model their building on Ballysillen in Belfast. A farewell communion service was held on Sunday 10th May 1914. The contractors, John Graham and Son of Dromore moved in to demolish the old building and erect the new. It was completed in 1915 and is constructed of dark blue whinstone rock with white limestone dressings. The pews are of pitch pine with a seating capacity of 800. Various gifts were presented for the opening. The entrance gates and furnishings for the minister’s room were the gift of the W.W.A. Mrs Doey presented the congregation with the communion table, hall table and clock. In September 1918 the Session was requested to release Mr. Doey for chaplaincy work amongst the soldiers in France. A short time afterwards he resigned to take up the pastoral care of New Row Coleraine.
