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Opening of new Church building in Taughmonagh

The Rev Arnold Frank Memorial Presbyterian Church

The Rev Arnold Frank Memorial Presbyterian Church (The new church building in Taughmonagh, South Belfast)

A new church building in Taughmonagh, which replaces one built in 1954, was opened and dedicated on Saturday 8th September. The minister, the Rev Robert Love, welcomed the congregation, visitors, members of a Commission of South Belfast Presbytery and The Rt Rev Dr John Finlay (Moderator of the General Assembly), who was the guest preacher.

Following the act of dedication, Brian Knox of Architects Knox and Markwell handed over the keys of the new church building to Hugh Duncan, a member of the congregation.

Bill Armstrong, Gladys Davison, Earl Armstrong and the Church Praise Group led the worship. The hymns were 'The Lord's my shepherd', 'Before the throne' and 'I stand amazed in the presence'.

After the offering was taken in support of the work of the David Gordon Memorial Hospital, Livingstonia, Malawi, the Rev Dr Bill Addley (Deputy Clerk of the General Assembly) addressed the congregation outlining the background to the Harper - Frank Trust, which provided the funding for the new building. The Rev Arnold Frank had come from Germany at the outset of World War 11. After completing his studies for the ministry at Assembly's College, Belfast, he returned to Hamburg and set up a Presbyterian Congregation there. On his retirement he returned to Belfast where he lived until he was 105 years of age. It was from this background that Dr Addley advised the Taughmonagh congregation that their name would now be changed to 'The Rev Arnold Frank Memorial Presbyterian Church'.

Tea was served after the service providing the opportunity for visitors to chat with the Rev Robert Love and members of the congregation as they seek to be a vibrant community of Christ in this housing estate in south Belfast.
 

A Commission of the Presbytery of South Belfast pictured at the Opening and Dedication of the new church building in Taughmonagh on Saturday 8th September. L to R: Rev Alex Wimberly (McCracken Memorial Presbyterian Church), Rev Jack Lamb (Townsend Street Presbyterian Church), Rev Trevor Anderson (Clerk of South Belfast Presbytery), Rev Victor Sinclair (Moderator of South Belfast Presbytery), Rev Robert Love (Minister of Taughmonagh), Rev Dr Bill Moore (Former Minister of Taughmonagh), The Rt Rev Dr John Finlay (Moderator of the General Assembly) and Rev Derek McKelvey (Fisherwick Presbyterian Church).

A Commission of the Presbytery of South Belfast pictured at the Opening and Dedication of the new church building in Taughmonagh on Saturday 8th September. L to R: Rev Alex Wimberly (McCracken Memorial Presbyterian Church), Rev Jack Lamb (Townsend Street Presbyterian Church), Rev Trevor Anderson (Clerk of South Belfast Presbytery), Rev Victor Sinclair (Moderator of South Belfast Presbytery), Rev Robert Love (Minister of Taughmonagh), Rev Dr Bill Moore (Former Minister of Taughmonagh), The Rt Rev Dr John Finlay (Moderator of the General Assembly) and Rev Derek McKelvey (Fisherwick Presbyterian Church).

At the Opening and Dedication of the new church building in Taughmonagh on Saturday 8th September are L to R: Rev Trevor Anderson (Clerk of South Belfast Presbytery), The Rt Rev Dr John Finlay (Moderator of the General Assembly), Judith Hamilton - Architects Knox and Markwell, Brian Knox - Architects Knox and Markwell, Rev Roy Patton - Convenor of the Board of Mission in Ireland and Rev Victor Sinclair (Moderator of South Belfast Presbytery).

Brian Knox of Architects Knox and Markwell is pictured handing over the keys of a new church building to Hugh Duncan, a member of the congregation. The picture was taken during the Opening and Dedication of a new church building in Taughmonagh (South Belfast) on Saturday 8th September.

History of Taughmonagh congregation
Taughmonagh congregation was formed when some 500 bungalows were built in order to meet the housing shortage after World War 11. They were occupied mostly by young married couples who found it difficult to travel with their children to McCracken Memorial. It developed as a joint Presbyterian/Methodist venture, the oversight being shared by McCracken Memorial Presbyterian Church and Osborne Park Methodist Church (now demolished). The church building - a Hall Church - was erected by the Presbyterians and it was opened on 5th March 1954 and dedicated by the Rt Rev Principal J. E. Davey, Moderator of the General Assembly and the Rev R. M. L. Waugh, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland.

The first minister, the Rev William Moffatt Jackson (1954-1958) was ordained in McCracken Memorial on 17th January 1954. An additional hall was erected and opened on 15th December 1954. Mr Jackson was followed in turn by Rev Ian Strain McDowell (1958-1961), Rev Philip James Carlyle Breakey (1961-1965), Rev Samuel Scott (1965-1968), Rev James Desmond Ayre (1968-1975), Rev Joseph Victor Craig (1975-1977) and Rev Dr Bill Moore (1981-2002). The present minister, the Rev Robert Love, was installed on 23rd October 2002.

10/09/2007