History of Hebron Free Presbyterian Church
Our church can trace its roots back to a six-week gospel mission held in 1951. Rev. Ian Paisley was invited to be the evangelist in the old Cabra Schoolhouse, just a few miles outside Ballymoney. God blessed that mission and around one hundred people were converted.
After the success of the mission in the Cabra Schoolhouse, concern was expressed about the young converts having to return to worship in churches that were not strongly evangelical in outlook. The possibility of starting a Free Presbyterian Church was discussed but no firm decision was made. Instead a whole night of prayer was held in Mr. Sandy McAuley’s home and the decision was agreed at 7 a.m. the following morning in the garden.
On Saturday, 23rd June, 1951 at 3.30 p.m. Cabra, the third congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church, was officially constituted.
The meeting place was a large tent erected in Mr. William Stevenson’s field just beside the old Schoolhouse, and the first elders were installed — Mr. James Atkinson, Mr. Alexander McAuley, Mr. William Stevenson and Mr. Albert Hanna, answering the prescribed questions and subscribing to the Confession of Faith. They were inducted into their offices and given the right hand of fellowship by Rev. George Stears and Rev. Ian R. K. Paisley.
The next day worship was held in the tent with over 200 present. Due to leaks in the tent roof, services then moved to Mr. William Stevenson’s barn loft for 18 months while the new Cabra church building was being built. During this time Rev. Cecil Menary became the first minister of the new church, staying until 1952 when he moved to take up the ministry in Rasharkin.
The new Cabra building was officially opened on 8th November 1952 and Mr. John Wylie was licensed and placed in charge of Cabra, while he was studying in the Free Presbyterian Theological Hall.
Rev. Alan Cairns became the 2nd minister in 1965 after Rev. Wylie moved to minister in Coleraine. During his ministry the congregation grew and it was decided to move into the town of Ballymoney, with the building on Market Street opened in 1972.
Following Rev. Cairns taking up the ministry in Greenville, South Carolina in 1980, Rev. Leslie Curran took over in Ballymoney. During his time Sunday School rooms were constructed, a Christian Day School formed and the present day manse purchased. Rev. Curran took over the day-to-day running of the church’s radio ministry — Let the Bible Speak. This work prospered to the extent that he became full-time director of that work in 1996.
Rev. David Park took over that same year and has been minister since. During his ministry attendance steadily increased. A new Sunday School & Youth complex was opened in 2002, which was renamed The Carson Complex following the death of esteemed elder Mr. Nevin Carson on the 2nd day of the Bible conference held to celebrate its opening.
With the congregation continuing to grow, following much prayer and consultation, it was decided that a new building would be constructed on the existing site. The new building was completed in 2006 and opened to the glory of God. It has been a wonderful facility, and on several occasions it has been packed to capacity. The Church longs to see it full every Sabbath, and prays that God will send a mighty revival to this area that will see multitudes streaming into God’s House, hungering after the Bread of Life.
God has been pleased to save many precious souls, some of which have been real trophies of grace. In recent years, the Schools Ministry and new Hebron Hub have been a real encouragement to the congregation. The Lord has been pleased to touch the hearts of many young people and call them into full-time service, both into the ministry at home and unto the mission field abroad. To God be the glory!
The Church continues to move forward in the cause of Christ’s kingdom, and in this 75th Anniversary year, we have adopted the motto of our denomination, “Still preaching, still reaching.”