History of The Church
Around 1840 Mr Andrew Crawford, a licentiate of the Tyrone Presbytery, began to preach in Newtownbreda Village. In 1842 Presbytery was memorialised and a congregation established. An appeal was launched in 1843 for funds to build a church on land at Rosetta and on 7th August 1843 the foundation stone was laid by Sir R. Bateson, Bart. Seven months later the church was opened for Divine Worship by the Rev. Henry Cooke D.D .Ll. D. Mr Crawford was ordained as Minster.
In the next forty years the building was enlarged on three occasions to meet the growing congregation who had moved into the area around the church. The old church building now renamed St. John’s Hall remained in use until the middle1960s a tribute to the builders and the various members of the congregation who were responsible for its upkeep.cent to the existing building which would be capable of seating 475 worshippers on the ground floor and 125 in the gallery. The foundation stone was laid on 4th April 1891 by the Minister’s wife Mrs. Workman and Mr. R.G. McCann J.P. of Armagh. The silver trowel used by Mr McCann is in the possession of the Congregation. The organ from the old church was enlarged and modified to fit into the new building and with several overhauls and modifications remained in use until 1933.
As the population of the area increased so to did the need for further churches and the Newtownbreda congregation took the lead in establishing Cooke Centenary (1892), St. Andrews, (1949) Saintfield Road (1960) and Belvoir Park (1963).
The minor hall which had previously been Rosetta school was demolished in the 1950s to enable the building of the St. John’s Memorial Hall. The new Hall was officially opened on 19th October 1957 by the senior Elder, Mr. John Fulton. The hall is a memorial to those who died or served during the Second World War.
The manse and the St. John’s Hall were demolished in 1967 and a new Minor Hall built incorporating as well as a hall, committee room and church lounge. A new manse had been purchased in 1962.
The Minor hall was demolished in 2006 and replaced with current suite of halls and offices which were officially opened by the two senior elders, Roy Guiler and Ronnie Ross, on 27th January 2007.
Ministers
Andrew Crawford 1844 - 1861
Robert Workman 1862 - 1918
William Megaw 1919 - 1950
Rex Pedlow 1950 - 1969
Pat Lowry 1969 - 1982
Wilfred Orr 1983 -
A full history of the Congregation can be found in “A Day in Thy Courts “ by Ronnie Ross, from which all of the information above was taken.
Other Publications
“The Light Shines On” A booklet in memory of Rev. Pat. Lowry
“62nd Belfast” A history of scouting in Newtownbreda by John Lyons