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Annual Report 2006/7
H.Q.
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The Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church
of Ireland is a small but significant denomination with a historical
witness to liberal Christianity. Although a separate denomination in its
own right, it has no exact parallel with any other church outside
Ireland and may best be understood in relation to Irish Presbyterianism,
within which tradition it had its origins and with which it still
retains a deep affinity.
History in Ireland
1613
- Edward Brice becomes the first Presbyterian Minister in Ireland.
1642 - The First Presbytery in
Ulster set up in the town of Carrickfergus
1725 - The First Non-Subscribing
Presbytery formed. Antrim Presbytery stood alone in defence of the
sufficiency of Scripture and the supremacy of the teaching of Jesus
Christ on all questions of Faith and Duty.
1829 - The second and better known
controversy over the principle of non-subscription within the Synod of
Ulster brought to the forefront two men of outstanding character and
ability. Dr. Henry Cooke commanded the support of the subscribers; Dr.
Henry Montgomery was the champion of those who espoused the
non-subscribing principle. These two men propounded and defended their
respective conservative and liberal principles. Dr. Henry Montgomery,
Minister of Dunmurry, led three presbyteries; Armagh, Bangor and
Templepatrick, representing seventeen congregations out of the Synod of
Ulster and formed the Remonstrant Synod in 1830.
1910 - The Remonstrant Synod and
the Presbytery of Antrim drew closer together and eventually, in 1910,
they united to form the General Synod of the Non-Subscribing
Presbyterian Church of Ireland.
1935 - The Synod of Munster, an
old and historic Non-Subscribing Synod, was welcomed into fellowship
with the Non-Subscribing Church.
Now - Our Synod, or General
Assembly, consists of three Presbyteries and thirty-four congregations.
All these congregations together form and constitute the Non-Subscribing
Presbyterian Church of Ireland.
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