History of the Presbyterian Congregations of Clough and Seaforde
Clough Presbyterian Church has a history dating back to AD 1680.
Presbyterians who lived around Clough and Seaforde first met for worship in 1680 in the townland of Drumcaw. The first minister of the congregation was Thomas Maxwell born in Ballynahinch 1642 and educated at Glasgow University. He was succeeded by Hugh Ramsey. The congregation increased so much that the next minister Hugh Williamson obtained a lease in of ½ acre in Clough from Francis Annesley the landowner. In1737 the new Meeting House was built, the church where we worship today. Hugh was succeeded by his son John.
During this century a growing number of ministers were attracted to a different way of understanding theological issues known as the New Light. Some refused to subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith, the standard belief of the denomination. John Williamson embraced this teaching. In 1773 he was suspended from ministerial duties. He was replaced by Robert Porter whose preaching did not meet the approval of the members of the congregation living in the adjoining parish of Kilmegan, so they started a new congregation in the new town of Castlewellan in 1804. Twenty years later members in Seaforde complained that the teaching was not evangelical. They opened a new church in Seaforde in 1826 with Robert McCormick as their new minister.
The minister of Clough Robert Porter was succeeded by William Campbell also a supporter of New Light teaching. When he died in 1829 his assistant, David Watson hoped to fill the vacancy. When he did not get the required number of votes his supporters wanted to lead the congregation into the Non-Subscribing presbytery of Antrim. This led to division. Tempers flared and the police were called to restore order in the meeting house. The local magistrate read the riot act and locked up the church. The dispute was referred to the Courts of Justice to determine which party should have possession of the meeting house. In the meantime each party ordained their own minister, Rev.David Watson for the New Light party and Rev. Francis Dill from Donegal for the evangelical orthodox party.
In 1836 the Court of the Exchequer in Dublin decided in favour of the Evangelical party. The Meeting House was reopened with Francis Dill as the minister. The New Light party built a new church in the village on the Castlewellan Road. It was opened in 1837 as the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church with David Watson as the minister.
Francis Dill retired in 1842. He was succeeded by Edward Stuart and during his ministry of 40 years the congregation became one of the largest in the Presbytery.
Robert Scott, ordained in 1883 led the congregation into the 20th century and a church hall was opened in1901.
In Seaforde Robert McCormick was succeeded in 1839 by John McMordie followed by John Rea and John Stewart.
Robert Scott of Clough died in 1922 and John Stewart of Seaforde resigned in 1923.Both congregations were now vacant. The General Assembly directed that Clough and Seaforde congregations be united from 5th March, 1923.
The following is a list of the ministers of the union of Clough and Seaforde.
Charles Orr 1923. Samuel Scott 1963 Robert Craig 1985
Henry McNeilly 1934 John Ross 1966 Adrian Moffett 1995
Robin Boggs 1938 Samuel Miller 1970 Maurice Stewart 2008
William Craig 1952 Desmond Knowles 1975 Adrian Adger 2015
In the 19th Century the challenge to the congregation of Clough was the defence of the truth.
The spread of the truth became their commitment in the 20th Century. Four women members of the congregation obeyed the call of Jesus to take the Gospel into all the world.
In 1901 Lizzie Macauley, the daughter of a local mill owning family sailed to India to serve as a missionary in orphanages and girls’ schools.
In 1923 Margaret McCombe a farmer’s daughter arrived in China as a missionary in Manchuria.
In 1958 her neice, also named Margaret McCombe, went as a teacher with the United Mission to Nepal.
In 1968 her sister, Violet McCombe went as a missionary nurse to the Middle East.
Since the Congregation gathered at Drumcaw over 300 years ago members have maintained a continuous witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ influencing generations of families in Clough and Seaforde. In the 21st century these congregations continue to worship with the same commitment to evangelism and mission.
Presbyterians who lived around Clough and Seaforde first met for worship in 1680 in the townland of Drumcaw. The first minister of the congregation was Thomas Maxwell born in Ballynahinch 1642 and educated at Glasgow University. He was succeeded by Hugh Ramsey. The congregation increased so much that the next minister Hugh Williamson obtained a lease in of ½ acre in Clough from Francis Annesley the landowner. In1737 the new Meeting House was built, the church where we worship today. Hugh was succeeded by his son John.
During this century a growing number of ministers were attracted to a different way of understanding theological issues known as the New Light. Some refused to subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith, the standard belief of the denomination. John Williamson embraced this teaching. In 1773 he was suspended from ministerial duties. He was replaced by Robert Porter whose preaching did not meet the approval of the members of the congregation living in the adjoining parish of Kilmegan, so they started a new congregation in the new town of Castlewellan in 1804. Twenty years later members in Seaforde complained that the teaching was not evangelical. They opened a new church in Seaforde in 1826 with Robert McCormick as their new minister.
The minister of Clough Robert Porter was succeeded by William Campbell also a supporter of New Light teaching. When he died in 1829 his assistant, David Watson hoped to fill the vacancy. When he did not get the required number of votes his supporters wanted to lead the congregation into the Non-Subscribing presbytery of Antrim. This led to division. Tempers flared and the police were called to restore order in the meeting house. The local magistrate read the riot act and locked up the church. The dispute was referred to the Courts of Justice to determine which party should have possession of the meeting house. In the meantime each party ordained their own minister, Rev.David Watson for the New Light party and Rev. Francis Dill from Donegal for the evangelical orthodox party.
In 1836 the Court of the Exchequer in Dublin decided in favour of the Evangelical party. The Meeting House was reopened with Francis Dill as the minister. The New Light party built a new church in the village on the Castlewellan Road. It was opened in 1837 as the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church with David Watson as the minister.
Francis Dill retired in 1842. He was succeeded by Edward Stuart and during his ministry of 40 years the congregation became one of the largest in the Presbytery.
Robert Scott, ordained in 1883 led the congregation into the 20th century and a church hall was opened in1901.
In Seaforde Robert McCormick was succeeded in 1839 by John McMordie followed by John Rea and John Stewart.
Robert Scott of Clough died in 1922 and John Stewart of Seaforde resigned in 1923.Both congregations were now vacant. The General Assembly directed that Clough and Seaforde congregations be united from 5th March, 1923.
The following is a list of the ministers of the union of Clough and Seaforde.
Charles Orr 1923. Samuel Scott 1963 Robert Craig 1985
Henry McNeilly 1934 John Ross 1966 Adrian Moffett 1995
Robin Boggs 1938 Samuel Miller 1970 Maurice Stewart 2008
William Craig 1952 Desmond Knowles 1975 Adrian Adger 2015
In the 19th Century the challenge to the congregation of Clough was the defence of the truth.
The spread of the truth became their commitment in the 20th Century. Four women members of the congregation obeyed the call of Jesus to take the Gospel into all the world.
In 1901 Lizzie Macauley, the daughter of a local mill owning family sailed to India to serve as a missionary in orphanages and girls’ schools.
In 1923 Margaret McCombe a farmer’s daughter arrived in China as a missionary in Manchuria.
In 1958 her neice, also named Margaret McCombe, went as a teacher with the United Mission to Nepal.
In 1968 her sister, Violet McCombe went as a missionary nurse to the Middle East.
Since the Congregation gathered at Drumcaw over 300 years ago members have maintained a continuous witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ influencing generations of families in Clough and Seaforde. In the 21st century these congregations continue to worship with the same commitment to evangelism and mission.