​The Choir of St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, travelled to Banbridge on Wednesday December 14 to help the First Presbyterian Church (Non-Subscribing) celebrate its 300th anniversary.
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The Cathedral’s Master of the Choristers David Stevens was accompanied by the Girls’ Choir and Lay Clerks.
The choir sang 5.30pm Evensong in St Anne’s before heading down the M1 and A1 in the Cathedral minibuses. They were welcomed by the minster the Rev Norman Hutton, and enjoyed some sustenance in the form of the ever reliable pizza!

The First Presbyterian Church (Non-Subscribing) was founded 300 years ago and 2016 also marks the 170th anniversary of the opening of the present church building in Downshire Road in Banbridge.
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The original church was in Lurgan Road, in what is now known as Old Meeting House Green. The congregation worshipped there until 1846, when they moved to the impressive new church. A special 300th anniversary service was held in the church in September.

David Stevens had prepared a varied festive programme. He played the historic church organ and the choristers sang a number of items including the Advent Hymn Creator of the Stars of Night, Torches (John Joubert); Jesus Christ the apple tree (Ledger); Mary’s Magnificat (Andrew Carter); In the Bleak Midwinter (H Darke) and the Little Road to Bethlehem (M Head). Their rendition of O Holy Night (H Adam) was simply stunning.

There were congregational hymns including O come, O come Emmanuel, Once in Royal David’s City, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

The audience was treated to some wonderful pieces played by David on the organ. These included Bach’s In dulci jubilo, Noel X (LC Daquin); The Holy Boy (J Ireland) Sleigh Ride (L Anderson)

Mr Hutton had invited representatives of other churches in Banbridge to do readings between the musical items.

Nicola and Warren Campbell both work at the Belfast Activity Centre. 

BAC is a registered charity and has over 24 years experience challenging and inspiring young people to realise their full potential. In fact each year BAC supports over 20,000 young people through outdoor adventure learning.

Nicola has been with BAC for 16 years and is Senior Disability Project Worker (Duty Manager), She currently manages the Access-Ability programme supporting young people with a broad range of disabilities. Nicola’s qualifications include Mountain Leader Award, Rock Climbing Leaders Award, Level II Canoe/kayak and MA Disability Studies.

Warren is Senior Instructor - a role that is split between Youth Build and the Fairbridge programme with The Prince's Trust. His qualifications include SPA, MLA, MBLA, Trail Cycle Leader, GNAS Archery Leader, BCU Level 1 coach and OCN Level 2 youth work. He loves mixing all outdoor adventures with personal development.

Their roles involve working with a wide range of young people, some of whom can be quite challenging, however they both enjoy their work and get a lot of job satisfaction from the duties and problems they are faced with.

Just recently they had a visit from Prince Edward (again). It is a family joke, as Nicola she has met him on several occasions, to ask is she on first name terms! 

Both  them of enjoy their work and devote many hours to young people, and Sam and Amy Flanagan are extremely proud of them both.

The artistic talents of our church were on full display 60 years ago with a well-received theatrical production which left the audience demanding more.

Here follows excerpts from a report which featured in The Leader on March 16, 1956.
The Rampart Street Schoolroom, Dromore, was filled to capacity on three evenings last week when the local N.S. Presbyterian Church Amateur Dramatic Society presented “Bed of Rose’s” (a broad comedy in three acts by Falkland L Cary). So much was the comedy enjoyed that there have been requests for a repeat performance. This has been arranged for Wednesday evening next at 8 o’clock.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Players were at their best, and the performances reflect the very highest credit on them and their producer, Miss Margaret Whitehead. It was very evident that much time and thought had been given to the production. The cast were all well suited to their parts, and all, including three newcomers to the stage (Joan Russell, Audrey Agnew and her brother Sam), played with confidence.

Of the more seasoned players there were Anna Ferguson and Jim Flanagan, who, in their own inimitable way, brought an ever-popular touch of romance into the picture; Violet Scott, very much at home in a serious role; Edith Boal, playing with apparent ease in a part which called for actions as well as words; the one and only Sam Agnew (senior), always equal to any emergency; and last but not least William Wilkinson, whose versatility enabled him to “care for the body” with the same ability with which he “looked after the soul” in last season’s production.

The full cast in order of appearance was as follows: Jenny Pickersgill, Anna Ferguson; Pam Pickersgill, Audrey L Agnew; Mrs Blisden, Violet Scott; Bob Huggins, Samuel Kane Agnew; Rose Pickersgill, Edith Boal; Matt Pickersgill, Samuel Agnew; Basil Graves, James Flanagan; Doctor Raheney, William Wilkinson; May Rossiter, Joan Russell.

​Highlights in the performance were a scene which developed when Jenny Pickersgill invited the debonair Basil Graves to tea; and later, a round of fisticuffs between Basil and Bob Huggins.

Rev A E Peaston, who presided each evening, complimented and thanked the Players and Producer. He also expressed indebtedness to many who had helped in various ways, mentioning the names of Messrs Bob Crookshanks and others (stage improvements), William J Scott (decorations), Samuel Mann (lighting), Thompson Bros (stage furnishings), F Russell (transport), P E Neeson & Co (furniture), James Russell (curtains), Samuel Flanagan (door steward), William J Scott and Robert McIlrath (stewards), Wm McMillan (sexton), the programme sellers, and the Clarke family for all their help.

​Here, Mr Peaston made special mention of the serious illness of Mr John Clarke, expressing the hope that he would have a speedy recovery. John, he said, is a great Dromore character and a great lover of this Church. Mr Peaston added that before John was taken so ill he was busy making the artificial roses which they saw on the stage.

In his sermon, Alister asked the question: "What makes a good disciple?" and rounded off his address with the following thoughts:

"So to become that good disciple ourselves, we are to build on the solid rock which is Jesus and interpret the use of the Word in a way which shows our love for each other. 

"Today we remember those whose love knows no bounds, those who paid the supreme sacrifice, those who for our tomorrow they gave their today.

"And we show our example to those whom we come into contact with. We may not be on the bloody battlefield which our forefathers were, but we still have to be those soldiers of the Cross, showing love and compassion to all we meet."

The service came to a close with the singing of the National Anthem.