150 Years On - A Brief History

1860 Presbyterian Congregation at Dunmurry officially constituted at a service on 23rd March.

Mr. Robert James Arnold M. A. ordained and installed as first minister of the congregation on 21st November

For three years the new congregation met in a temporary church.

1863 Lease of land for church dated 29th May. New church building opened 22nd November

1895 Church opens school, known as Trinity School, on south side of main road through village.

1902 Rev. Arnold resigns in February after a ministry of 41 years.

Mr. Robert Davey B. A. ordained and installed as Minister on 8th July.
Throughout the 19th century, Dunmurry was growing. A mill village grew up round the mills by the banks the Glen River.

The Kirk Session Minute book records the names of all new church members, and the number who have transferred from churches in other areas is noticeable.
Another factor in the growth of Durunurry was the convenience of the railway, which made it possible to work in Belfast and live in Dunmurry.

1903 Church building extended and altered out of all recognition, largely creating the familiar building which stands today.

As originally built, the church building was much simpler being rectangular in shape - it was extended to give its present "Tee" - shape. The spire was added and the ornate brickwork on the outside is possibly also from this time.

1930 Trinity School closes on the opening of the new Dunmurry Public Elementary School (what is now Dunmurry Primary School) on the Glenburn Road. Pupils transfer to the new school.

1931 The former schoolhouse of Trinity School renovated and extended to create church hall, known as Trinity Hall.

This created a rather unusual situation whereby the church and church hall were separated not only by a main road, but by the railway line as well. The split site was to become an increasing problem in the years to come.

1945 Rev. Davey retires on 31st December after a long ministry of 43 years.

1946 Rev. James Albert Donaldson, previously a minister of Great James Street, Londonderry, installed as minister.

1950 Major renovation of Church building completed.

1960 Rev. Donaldson has to retire early through ill-health, actually taking ill in the pulpit.

1961 Rev. William Cowper Lynas M. A., previously minister of Ballywillan, Portrush, installed as minister on 13th April.

1967 A second church hall opened, known as the Davey Hall. The new hall was connected to the existing Trinity Hall, and was larger than it.

1971 Trinity Hall bombed at end of August. The hall was used as a courthouse on certain days and the incident happened the night before the court was due to sit. Trinity Hall and adjacent Minor Hall subsequently demolished.

1974 New Trinity Hall, built on site of original Trinity Hall, opened, along with the adjacent Lynas Hall on the site of the old Minor Hall.

1989 Rev. Lynas retires.

1990 Rev. John Alexander Braithwaite B.Sc., B.D., previously minister of Mount Joy and Drumlegagh, Co.Tyrone, installed as minister on 27th June.

2006 Congregation voted to sell church building and move across the road and railway line to the hall site, taking perhaps the biggest decision in the history of the Presbyterian community in Dunmurry since the split of 1829.

2010 Rev. John Braithwaite retires.

Research and detail by Colin Sherrard

2010 The New Complex on the hall site has been completed, comprising of a New Manse, two meeting rooms, one main hall, kitchen, foyer and Sanctuary.

2010 With the vacancy declared due to the retirement of Rev J Braithwaite, the church was under the spiritual guidance of Rev. Irwin and the members of the church completed a calling to Rev. Grant Connor to be ordained and installed as the minister of the Dunmurry congregation.

2010 October 2010 Set in the new Complex the first Service was the ordination and installation of the Rev Grant Connor was ordained as Minister of Dunmurry Presbyterian

Minister Emeritus: Rev John A Braithwaite

Rev John Braithwaite

Rev. John Alexander Braithwaite B.Sc., B.D., previously minister of Mountjoy and Drumlegagh, Co. Tyrone, installed as minister on 27th June 1990 retiring from Dunmurry Presbyterian in December 2009

Minister - Rev Corrina Heron

Corrina was minister of Dunmurry Presbyterian from May 2017 to September 2024. She is married to Scott and they have 2 young children and 4 grown up children. When she is not serving at church or playing with the kids, Corrina enjoys all things Spanish including tapas and salsa! A great believer in church being like a spiritual family, she is keen to help people of all ages and backgrounds connect with the church and come to know the Lord.