Dromore Gospel Hall
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| Dromore Gospel Hall | Notice Board at Dromore Gospel Hall. |
Dromore Gospel Hall
Maypole Hill, Dromore.
Lord’s Day Services:
Breaking of Bread: 11.00am
Sunday School: 3.00pm
Gospel Meeting: 6.00pm
HISTORY
The original fellowship was formed in the late 1890s and first met for worship in someone’s home near Tullyglush. The company of about twenty believers moved to Dromore in the 1900s meeting for worship in Upper Church Street at a place known as Shelling Hill, where R J Tinsley’s garage is today. In those days, some of the brethren came to the gospel meetings by horse and trap and the Shelling Hill location was particularly suitable as it had a facility where horses could be stabled during the service.
In about 1920 the assembly moved to the present building in Gallows Street. It was bequeathed to them by a local family called Vaughan of Lower Quilly Road, Dromore, on the understanding that it be used for religious services, namely the preaching of the gospel etc. Drew Nelson (Solicitor) who studied the deeds of the property reliably informs us that the names of the following five members of the Vaughan family appear on the deeds: Evelyn Vaughan (widow), Rev George Ralph Vaughan - Church of Ireland Minister of Carrigart in Donegal, Isabel Frances Vaughan, Eileen Catherine Vaughan and Mrs Evelyn Margaret Swenarton of Tullylish Rectory. Unfortunately, the deeds give no indication of what the building was used for prior to the 1920s.
The Gallows Street Hall was renovated during the Second World War and during the renovation work the brethren vacated the building and moved to a temporary location in Church Street called ‘The Blue Room’. After receiving unofficial information that the military authorities might commandeer the Hall, the brethren had the renovation work completed as quickly as possible and promptly re-occupied the building to ensure that they did not lose it.
For safety reasons, it was decided to change the location of the entrance to the building, which originally opened onto a narrow footpath on Gallows Street. Subsequently in 1983, an extension was added to the rear of the building creating a new entrance porch which opened onto an open area in Cross Lane. This recent renovation work together with improved parking facilities has ensured that Dromore Gospel Hall is a most acceptable and suitable place of worship enjoying an excellent town centre location for the preaching of the gospel.
The present Dromore assembly consists of approximately 100 members. Each Lord’s Day the brethren meet for Breaking of Bread at 11.00 am, Sunday School at 3.00 pm and a gospel meeting at 6.00 pm. A prayer meeting is held each Tuesday evening at 8.00 pm and a Bible study each Thursday evening at 8.00 pm. During the winter months, children’s work is carried on each Monday evening at 7.00 pm and over the summer months, open air meetings are held each Lord’s Day in and around the town after the evening service.
For a brief history of Children’s Meetings led by the Dromore Brethren at Mount Ida Orange and at a wooden hut at Ashfield crossroads in the 1950/60’s, click on: Gospel meetings and Sunday Schools around Ashfield and Dromore 1950/60’s. By: John A. Kelly
