First Antrim Presbyterian Church is marking its 300th Anniversary in October 2026. One of the celebration events is a ‘Songs of Praise’ service on Sunday 11th October 2026 at 6:30pm.
This promises to be a very special passage in the history of one of our province’s most enduring and faithful congregations.
The Congregation of First Antrim was founded in 1726 with around 90 families and placed under the care of Templepatrick Presbytery. They initially met for worship in the home of one of the members and later in an outbuilding at Masserene Castle. The Masserene family made ground available to lease in Millrow (now Riverside) and it was here that the first Church Building was opened in 1729.
The first minister, the Rev William Holmes, was ordained in Millrow on the 7th September 1730 where he served until his death in 1750. The original church building was replaced about 1800 and here the congregation worshiped for the next 37 years.
The foundation stone of our present church building was laid on the 9th June 1834 and three years later, to the day, 9th June 1837, it was opened for worship at a total cost of £3000. In 1860 the congregation changed its name from Millrow to First Antrim Presbyterian Church.
In 1929 a decision was taken to build a new manse. A three-acre site was purchased on the Greystone Road for £350 and the manse was built at a cost of £2230. In 1932 Dr. J.J. Adams presented a memorial organ in memory of his late father. The organ had a complete overhaul in 1985 at a cost of over £16000. It has now enhanced our worship for 75 years.
The Bruce Hall was built in 1882 and extended in 1959. The Majury Hall was built over the existing hall in 1969 and a new frontage added to the halls complex in 1994 and then again in 2024″
Down the years the congregation has been served by eleven ministers, the most recent having been Rev. Stephen Lockington, with the average length of service 28 years. Two ministries spanned almost a hundred years, the Very Rev. Dr. Thomas West 1867-1919, and the Rev. Dr. Matthew Majury 1920-1961.
OMF has featured large in the life of 1st Antrim, the National Director of OMF UK a member of the congregation. Folk from the congregation have served in the Philippines and currently a family serves in Japan.
Twelve men have entered the Presbyterian ministry in recent years, and over 30 young people have had overseas missionary experience short-term since 1980 and at present a number of members are in full-time Bible/Theological College training.
First Antrim has had the distinction of supplying two Moderators to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Dr. West 1917-18, and Dr. Dixon 1998-1999. Dr. Dixon retired as senior minister of First Antrim in March 2008.
This historical information is gleaned from ‘Hewn from the Rock’ a book by the late Dr. George Hughes, a long serving member and former Clerk of our Kirk Session.
Today, First Antrim is continuing to thrive under the Ministry of Rev. Stephen Lockington. The two Sunday services at 10.30am and 6.30pm are complimented by the Tuesday night prayer meeting at 7pm, Bible Studies for men and women, the Little Legends Toddler Group, (Wednesday at 10am, and FOG (primary school aged children) and Elevation, (Secondary Pupils) on Sundays.
What’s more, there is also Boys’ Brigade, (Monday nights) and Girls’ Brigade on Wednesday evenings.
As he expressed thanks to God for past blessings and optimism for the future of First Antrim, Rev Stephen Lockington offered an enthusiastic welcome to anyone who would like to attend the anniversary event.
He said: “Everyone’s invited! We would especially love to welcome back the many, many people for whom First Antrim played a significant part in their lives. Maybe that’s you? Please come join us on Sunday 11th October 2026 at 6:30pm. See you then and spread the word.”
“There will be a Photographic Exhibition reflecting some of those 300 years from Thursday 8th – Saturday 10th October 2026 from 2.30-4.30pm & 7-9pm, and on Sunday 11 October 2026 from 4-6pm and 8-9.30pm. Again, everyone is welcome to come and learn more about our history”, added Stephen.
To discover more about First Antrim Presbyterian Church, visit their website.