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The Rev Arnold Frank Memorial Presbyterian Church
(The new church building in Taughmonagh, South
Belfast)
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A new church building in Taughmonagh, which replaces one built
in 1954, was opened and dedicated on Saturday 8th September. The
minister, the Rev Robert Love, welcomed the congregation,
visitors, members of a Commission of South Belfast Presbytery
and The Rt Rev Dr John Finlay (Moderator of the General
Assembly), who was the guest preacher.
Following the act of dedication, Brian Knox of Architects Knox
and Markwell handed over the keys of the new church building to
Hugh Duncan, a member of the congregation.
Bill Armstrong, Gladys Davison, Earl Armstrong and the Church
Praise Group led the worship. The hymns were 'The Lord's my
shepherd', 'Before the throne' and 'I stand amazed in the
presence'.
After the offering was taken in support of the work of the David
Gordon Memorial Hospital, Livingstonia, Malawi, the Rev Dr Bill
Addley (Deputy Clerk of the General Assembly) addressed the
congregation outlining the background to the Harper - Frank
Trust, which provided the funding for the new building. The Rev
Arnold Frank had come from Germany at the outset of World War
11. After completing his studies for the ministry at Assembly's
College, Belfast, he returned to Hamburg and set up a
Presbyterian Congregation there. On his retirement he returned
to Belfast where he lived until he was 105 years of age. It was
from this background that Dr Addley advised the Taughmonagh
congregation that their name would now be changed to 'The Rev
Arnold Frank Memorial Presbyterian Church'.
Tea was served after the service providing the opportunity for
visitors to chat with the Rev Robert Love and members of the
congregation as they seek to be a vibrant community of Christ in
this housing estate in south Belfast.
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A Commission of the Presbytery of South Belfast
pictured at the Opening and Dedication of the new
church building in Taughmonagh on Saturday 8th
September. L to R: Rev Alex Wimberly (McCracken
Memorial Presbyterian Church), Rev Jack Lamb
(Townsend Street Presbyterian Church), Rev Trevor
Anderson (Clerk of South Belfast Presbytery), Rev
Victor Sinclair (Moderator of South Belfast
Presbytery), Rev Robert Love (Minister of
Taughmonagh), Rev Dr Bill Moore (Former Minister of
Taughmonagh), The Rt Rev Dr John Finlay (Moderator
of the General Assembly) and Rev Derek McKelvey (Fisherwick
Presbyterian Church).
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At the Opening and Dedication of the new church
building in Taughmonagh on Saturday 8th September
are L to R: Rev Trevor Anderson (Clerk of South
Belfast Presbytery), The Rt Rev Dr John Finlay
(Moderator of the General Assembly), Judith Hamilton
- Architects Knox and Markwell, Brian Knox -
Architects Knox and Markwell, Rev Roy Patton -
Convenor of the Board of Mission in Ireland and Rev
Victor Sinclair (Moderator of South Belfast
Presbytery).
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Brian Knox of Architects Knox and Markwell is
pictured handing over the keys of a new church
building to Hugh Duncan, a member of the
congregation. The picture was taken during the
Opening and Dedication of a new church building in
Taughmonagh (South Belfast) on Saturday 8th
September.
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History of Taughmonagh congregation
Taughmonagh congregation was formed when some 500 bungalows
were built in order to meet the housing shortage after World War
11. They were occupied mostly by young married couples who found
it difficult to travel with their children to McCracken
Memorial. It developed as a joint Presbyterian/Methodist
venture, the oversight being shared by McCracken Memorial
Presbyterian Church and Osborne Park Methodist Church (now
demolished). The church building - a Hall Church - was erected
by the Presbyterians and it was opened on 5th March 1954 and
dedicated by the Rt Rev Principal J. E. Davey, Moderator of the
General Assembly and the Rev R. M. L. Waugh, President of the
Methodist Church in Ireland.
The first minister, the Rev William Moffatt Jackson (1954-1958)
was ordained in McCracken Memorial on 17th January 1954. An
additional hall was erected and opened on 15th December 1954. Mr
Jackson was followed in turn by Rev Ian Strain McDowell
(1958-1961), Rev Philip James Carlyle Breakey (1961-1965), Rev
Samuel Scott (1965-1968), Rev James Desmond Ayre (1968-1975),
Rev Joseph Victor Craig (1975-1977) and Rev Dr Bill Moore
(1981-2002). The present minister, the Rev Robert Love, was
installed on 23rd October 2002.
10/09/2007
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