A special service took place on Saturday, 7 March in Mullingar to mark the official opening and dedication of the new Presbyterian Church in Mullingar.
Supported by members of the congregation, and before invited guests from other local churches, civic dignitaries and political representatives, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Right Reverend Dr. Michael Barry conducted the act of dedication.
“This is an exciting new beginning for Mullingar, not only for our own church, but for all God’s people in the area and I am delighted to be here to see firsthand a vibrant and growing congregation,” Dr. Barry said.
“The need for this new building is clearly demonstrated, as I am told that the congregation is now the largest it has been in nearly 200 years, since the first Presbyterian Church opened in the 1820s.”
There has been a Presbyterian congregation in Mullingar since 1821. Ordained in 2002 as Minister of Corboy and Mullingar, the Reverend Stephen Lockington said that there was absolutely no thought given to a new building back then, as the congregation had been in steady decline for many years.
“By the end of the 1990s, the church was down to a small number of people. The last baptism took place in the mid 1980s, so there was certainly no talk at that time of the need for a new church. Things have turned around and today, with a congregation approaching 100, we’re delighted to have our new building.”
In recent years, services took place in both the Christian Brothers National School and the Educate Together National School until the new multi-purpose building had been built on the former green field site at Rathgowan on the C-Link Road.
The last service at the old Presbyterian Church on Castle Street took place in April 2012, with the first service in the new church taking place in December 2014.
“From our last service in the old church to today, it has been two and a half years and quite a journey,” said Rev. Lockington. “The new church cost €1.35 million and I want to publicly thank everyone for their outstanding generosity. This includes both individuals and groups within the wider Presbyterian family and the local community, all of which has enabled us in continuing to serve God in this part of Ireland.” he concluded.
The service was led by Rev. Chris Kennedy, Minister of Dun Laoghaire and Moderator of the Dublin and Munster Presbytery, one of the Church’s 19 Presbyteries across Ireland. The Rev. David Bruce, Secretary of the Church’s Council for Mission in Ireland led the Prayers of Intercession.
