Ballyphilip Church of Ireland
in Portaferry

The church was erected in 1787 at a cost of £1,000, £500 of which was granted by the Board of First Fruits, the remainder was collected by subscription and parish assessments; The late Mr Savage's family contributed £72. In 1836 they were about to add a steeple and an organ. The average attendance then was 180 people but it could hold 300.

List of early rectors ; Rev. William Sturrock in 1781; Rev. W.H.I.Smith in 1830 & Rev James L.M. Scott in 1843; Rev. Canon J. T. Armstrong in 1922 & Rev. Andrew Sturrock before 1928

Newspaper article from Down Recorder; stained glass memorial 16 Nov 1861; enlargements 23 Nov 1861; sustenance fund 13 Nov 1869
Newspaper article from Banner of Ulster; special service to raise funds to liquify their debt; list of major contributors 4 Nov 1842

From Journal of Upper Ards Historical Society;
annual outing of church choir 29 Jul 1911; new stained glass window erected y Co. J.V. Nugent 12 Aug 1911; Thanksgiving Harvest Service 21 Oct 1911; recital of scared music 2 Dec 1911

records from 1745; UHF (ancestryireland ) have burials 1831-1883; http://www.rootsireland.ie have burials 1831-1883; old graveyard nearby; gravestone inscriptions available UHF Vol 13; email me for a gravestone look-up
This photo was kindly sent to me by Brian McCleary.

Templecranny ruined church & old graveyard

The ruins of the church are possibly as old as the sixteenth century but there was an older parish church in the rectory grounds which was accidentally destroyed about 1784. Temple Cranny was dismantled in 1787 when the modern parish church was built across the road;

List of early rectors ; Rev William Somerville n 1430; Rev William Worseley in 1609; Rev Malcolm Hamilton in 1612; Rev John Echlin in 1629; Rev Robert Echlin in 1670; Rev William Sturrock in 1781

gravestone inscriptions available ; email me for a gravestone look-up

This photo, kindly sent to me by Lena McVea shows the ruined church on the right covered by bushes and a few of the old gravestones

Portaferry Presbyterian Church
in the north east of the town

The original meeting house was erected in 1694 and was rebuilt in 1751. The cost was defrayed by public contributions.The first minister was Rev. John Drysdale who had been chaplain to Lord Claneboy's regiment in 1641.Then came Rev Arthur Strayton who fled to Scotland during the Troubles then Rev Samuel Shannon 1697- 1739 . His assistant then minister was Rev James Armstrong 1739-1779 then Rev William Steele Dickson from 1780 & was prominant in the 1798 Rebellion. Rev Moreland filled in for him was he was imprisoned then became the appointed minister in 1800 until 1822. He was succeeded by Rev John Orr 1822-1878.
In 1836 the church was described as a large, plain, T-shaped, unornamental house with 90 seats in the aisle and 14 in the gallery. It was capable of holding 730 people. There were 224 Presbyterian families in this parish at that time and the average that attended on Sunday was 200. Ths newer church was built in 1841 by architect John Miller. Main financial contributors were Rev John Orr , Rev James McAleenan (parish priest) & Andrew Nugent (local landlord). Special services were held to raise the additional money to make the cost of £2540.00. Rev Thomas E.Clouston was appointed as assistant in 1875 then minister until 1880 then Rev John Boyd 1880-1910 then Rev James Kennedy Cronne in 1911 & Rev James Lorimer in 1937 & Rev J.S. Woods & Rev T.A Patterson in 1973.

Newspaper article from Northern Star;
meeting of congregation to discuss political situation 12 Jan 1793

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
new church at Portaferry 28 Aug 1841; new graveyard 26 May 1883; bazaar in Portaferry 20 Dec 1884

Records from 1699; no graveyard; North of Ireland FHS ( www.nifhs.org) has Baptisms 1699-1921; Marriages 1750-1921; Deaths 1836-1993

http://www.friendsppc.org/ for church restoration news

Portaferry Wesleyan Methodist Church

The church was erected in 1788 and paid for by the congregation. A new roof was added in 1810. In 1836, there were 6 seats and a few forms and could hold 200 people, with an average attendance of 30. The dimensions were 40 feet by 21 feet. The clergymen were only Bible readers for 3 years after which they are approved of and admitted into full communion, 3 years after that they can get married, receiving for their wife and each child a stated sum until they arrive at a certain age. They were badly paid and had to travel on a circuit, receiving their meals at the houses of Methodists as they go . The minister in 1911 was Rev. Mr. George Robinson.

records ; North of Ireland FHS (www.nifhs.org) has baptisms 1879-1945 & marriages 1864-1937; no graveyard

http://www.portaferrymethodistchurch.org/

St. Patrick's Catholic Chapel- Portaferry
13 Church St, Portaferry BT 22 1LS (in Tullyboard townland, east of the town) Tel; 028 4272 8373 Fax 028 4272 8102
Parochial House- 60 Windmill St, Portaferry BT22 1RD Tel: 4272 8234

There was a priest in the area in 1704 (Rev Patrick O'Prey) and a mass house on the site at least as early as 1744 but the present church was built in 1762 by Rev James Teggart with the stonemasons being Dorrian & carpenter Mr Henry Murland . Other priests were Rev O'Doran then Rev. John Fitzsimmons in 1780 & Rev Patrick McGreevy in 1786 then Rev Edward McQuoid in 1812 & Rev Peter Denvir in 1815-1825 & Rev. James McAleenan. The church was rebuilt in 1831 by Rev James McAleenan. There was a local cholera outbreak in 1832 & 1839. In 1836 it was described as a large chapel with 23 uneven windows. Some of the walls & stones were retained from the old building. The cost was £600 and labour was provided by the congregation for free. There were 500 Catholic families in the parish with the attendance in 1836 at 1,000 people with only 33 seats in bad repair. It could hold 1,500 people .The parish priest then was Mr. McAleenan. The priest 1843-1881 was Rev. James Killen then Rev Richard Killen (his brother) 1881-1898. There were 2 false clocks and a sundial outside and the building was enlargd in 1862.

records from 1823; PRONI has baptisms 1843- 1881, marriages 1843- 1881, burials 1843- 1881, NLI has baptisms 1843-1880, marriages 1843-1880; UHF has baptisms & marriages & burials 1843-1900, gravestone inscriptions available UHF Vol 13 ; oldest readable stone 1847; email me for a gravestone look-up Try http://www.portaferry.freeserve.co.uk/Catholic.html or http://www.portaferryparish.com

20th century priests:
Rev. Hugh Magorrian until 1912; Rev George Crolly 1912- 1916; Rev. James Kennedy 1916- 1928; Rev. Patrick McKillop 1929- 1945; Rev. George Watson 1946- 1960; Rev. Patrick McAlea 1960- 1965; Rev. David Morgan 1965- 1985; Rev. Gerard Laverty 1985- 1992; Rev. Brendan McGee 1992-2000; Rev Martin Kelly 2000+

http://www.portaferryparish.com/

Ballygalget Catholic Church- St.Patrick's
Ballygalget Rd, Portaferry BT22 1NE

This photo shows the church (cream) with the school (brown). A thattched church near this site was formerly known as Temple Cranny which suggests antiquity, with ruins possibly from 16th century. It was rebuilt across the road in 1784 by Rev. Bernard McGarry/ Magarry with the patronage of the savages of Rock Savage. It was enlarged in 1835 and in 1836, it was described as a plain building, capable of holding 700 people with dimensions of 77 by 54 feet in a T shape. It had no regular seats but the floor was strewn with a number of forms. A newer church was erected by Rev. Patrick McCartan 8 Jul 1879.

The parish priest before 1877 was Rev. John McCourt then Rev. Francis McBride until 1909; Rev. James McDonald 1909-1916; Rev. John McAleese 1916-1934; Rev. James King 1934-1942; Rev. James Greene 1942-1955; Rev. Alexander Connolly 1855- 1955; Rev. Bernard Armstrong 1961- 1990; Rev. Andrew McGrattan 1990- 1933; Rev Oliver McStravick 1993+; Rev D. McKay in 2005

Newspaper article from Newtownards Chronicle;
dedication of the chapel 12 Jul 1879

registers from 1745; PRONI & NLI have baptisms 1828- 1835 & 1852- 1864 & 1866-1881, marriages 1852- 1882, UHF has births 1828-1899, marriages 1852-1899 & deaths 1894-1899, graveyard nearby, oldest stone dates from 1659 but readable ones from 1864; gravestone inscriptions available UHF Vol 13; email me for a gravestone look-up; Parochial House in Ballygalget Rd- Tel:4277 1212

Millin Bay- ancient burial site

in Ballytrustan parish

Although just a grassy mound today near someone's farm house in Millin Bay, it was an important site for the ancient people of this land and dates from the Megalithic era. The photo shows the archaeologists digging and plotting the site c. 1930. You can see a stone circle surrounding the site with a long narrow court cist, a slab lined compartment in the centre which contained the bones of 15 people. They were also six other burials inside the stone circle but away from the main grave.