History

Our beginnings stretch back to the coming of Scottish settlers to Ulster in the early 17th century. Most of these settlers were Presbyterians who were naturally sympathetic towards their co-religionists in Scotland, who drew up a National Covenant in 1638 in protest against the autocratic policies of Charles I and who, in 1643, entered into the Solemn League and Covenant with the English Parliament. One aim of this covenant was `to work for the reformation of religion in the three kingdoms' and it was warmly approved and signed by many of the Ulster Scots.

The Revolution Settlement of 1690 was welcomed by most Ulster Presbyterians as a vindication of their struggle for religious freedom. A minority, however, objected to the disregarding of the Covenants and the absence of any specific recognition of the kingship of Jesus Christ. These `Covenanters', ancestors of modern Reformed Presbyterians, stood apart from the Presbyterian Church and began to hold separate meetings for fellowship, called societies. These society people were dependent on visits from Scottish ministers from 1696 until 1757. In 1763 a `Reformed Presbytery' was formed and rapid growth led to the formation of a Synod in 1811.

Covenanters who lived in the Faughan valley would have initially attended the meeting house at Bready from 1766. But events were soon to take shape by which they would form their own congregation. In 1770 the Covenanters in the Faughan valley joined forces with a break away group from Glendermott Presbyterian Church to form a new covenanting congregation. And so for over two centuries there has been a covenanting witness in the area of the Faughan Valley.

Today the congregation is comprised of 47 families. At morning worship there are approximately 90 people present, with an average of 45 in the evening. Over the past few years we are thankful to the Lord for the numerical growth we have experienced. And so we look to Jesus Christ the King of the Church to continue to build His church amongst us.

Like our forefathers we have one desire - that King Jesus will be given His rightful place in church and nation. As long as the Lord tarries we will seek to fly the banner of our church declaring Christ's Crown and Covenant.