The Lord's Song in a Strange Land
First Kilraughts is one of the old congregations of
the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. It dates back to
the Scottish Plantation of the early 17th
century when Presbyterians first settled in the district.
They worshipped in the Parish Church, which had been
repaired for their use, but they worshipped not as Anglicans
but as Presbyterians. This was acceptable for times
were tolerant but tolerance stopped in 1661. The minister,
whom the Kilraughts Presbyterians had brought over from
Scotland to preach to them, the Rev. William Cuming,
had to either accept Episcopacy and the Prayer Book
or get out. He decided to leave and he took the people
with him.
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Taking to the hills
They left the Parish Church in what is now Kilraughts
Old Graveyard and went to the hill of Carnageeragh,
in the shadow of which in the 1690s they built their
first primitive meetinghouse, in a corner of what is
now the church car park. Here the Rev. Robert Neilson
was ordained as second minister of the congregation
in 1698.
It was during the ministry of Mr Neilson's successor,
the Rev. John Cochrane (1716-1748) who later became
Clerk and Moderator of the Synod of Ulster, that a more
substantial church was built on the other side of the
Moor Road. This has remained the church site ever since.
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The 'Killen' of the Congregation
During the 1798 Rebellion the United Irishmen camped
on Carnageeragh hill, behind the church, and many members
joined them. Some years later (1819-20) the church was
rebuilt during the ministry of the Rev. Matthew Elder.
When he died in 1827 a serious dispute broke out in
the congregation over one of the candidates who preached
for the vacancy, the Rev. W. D. Killen. It wrecked the
congregation, many members leaving to boost the numbers
of the small Covenanting or Reformed Presbyterian Church
in Kilraughts, the young congregation of Ballyweaney
and eventually another newly-established congregation
at Dunloy.
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The Missionary
A Committee of the Church Synod took charge of what
remained of First Kilraughts and chose the Rev. Thomas
Leslie as the next minister. In 1835 he went to Jamaica
and became "the first Christian Missionary to the
heathen from the Synod of Ulster". Tragically,
he died a few months after his arrival in Jamaica.
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The Ministry of Love
It was a son of the congregation, the Rev. Robert Love,
who became the next minister in 1836. What was called
"the park around the church" was used as a
graveyard for the first time during his ministry.
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Worthy deeds
Mr Love's successor, the Rev. Samuel Finlay, was the
tenant of a farm at Pinehill and he played a leading
part, with many of his congregation, in the Tenant Right
Campaign which eventually enabled tenant farmers to
become the owners of their farms. Greatly beloved, nearly
every family had a son named Samuel Finlay. When Mr.
Finlay died in 1887 he left his farm to the congregation
as a manse. It was used as such for a short time but
was later purchased by Kilraughts Reformed Presbyterian
Church, becoming the manse of that congregation.
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Changing Rooms
In 1892 a major rebuilding of the church took place,
with the pulpit being changed from the side to the sable
wall and many improvements made. The minister then was
the Rev. John McCammon. About that same time two sisters
of the Rev. Robert Love left their farm at Breckagh
to the congregation as a manse and Mr. McCammon redesigned
the house, giving it a new impressive front, and moved
in. It is still the manse of the congregation and a
residence of considerable charm.
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The Robinson Hall
When
the Rev. F. A. Robinson was ordained in First Kilraughts
in 1930 he decided the congregation needed to expand
its social activities and embarked on the building of
a Church Hall, opened in 1933. On the 60th
anniversary of his ordination it was named the Robinson
Hall in honour of him and his wife. During his ministry
an organ was introduced and hymns were sung for the
first time.
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The Phoenix from the Flames
Just after Mr Robinson's retirement, the church was
burned on 4th April 1971 in an accidental
fire due to an electrical fault. A new modern church,
with beautiful stained glass windows, was built during
the ministry of the Rev. Robin Bell, who led the project
with much energy and expertise. It was opened and dedicated
on 31st May 1975. After the retirement of
Mr. Bell, Rev. David Thompson was installed and after
a short ministry moved back to Belfast.
The present minister of the congregation is the Rev.
Noel McClean.
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