History

Our History

Presbyterians have been in Newry since 1642 when a Scottish regiment was stationed at Newry after the events of the 1641 Rebellion in Ulster. The Chaplain to that Regiment was called the Rev Simpson. He stayed on after the regiment left, and it is assumed that he was responsible for organising the first Presbyterian congregation in the area. Since that time Presbyterians have had their ups and downs in the area. First Newry is currently meeting at Sandys Street due to a controversy that began at the start of the 19th Century. The Minister of the Presbyterian Congregation was the Rev John Mitchel. He was an avowed Unitarian (Non Trinitarian) and Orthodox members of his congregation left to form a new congregation at Sandys Street in 1828. The Current Meeting House was erected in 1829-30 and was designed by a famous Newry Architect, Thomas Duff in the Grecian style. Today First Newry continues its witness to the Orthodox, Reformed and Evangelical faith.