Welcome to Belfast Church!
We are a community that exists to explore, experience, and live out what it means to be God's people. We believe that means being a family that loves, helps, and encourages one another, welcoming our community to do the same.
Our mission is "to be a Christ-centered church, caring for one another and reaching out to all". We believe that Jesus invites us into a life that is full of joy and meaning. We have experienced this ourselves, and we hope that you will experience it as well.
We know that you likely have lots of other questions, and we do too! Our hope is that you will join us as we continue to learn, serve, and experience the love of Jesus and the life that he offers to us. We welcome discussion and would love to chat with you before or after our services on Sunday mornings at 11 am.
We welcome you to join us after the service for fellowship!
Our mission is "to be a Christ-centered church, caring for one another and reaching out to all". We believe that Jesus invites us into a life that is full of joy and meaning. We have experienced this ourselves, and we hope that you will experience it as well.
We know that you likely have lots of other questions, and we do too! Our hope is that you will join us as we continue to learn, serve, and experience the love of Jesus and the life that he offers to us. We welcome discussion and would love to chat with you before or after our services on Sunday mornings at 11 am.
We welcome you to join us after the service for fellowship!
Where we've come from
This historic Church was built in 1824 by the Lord Selkirk settlers who immigrated here because of the Highland Clearances in Scotland. They came from the Shires of Ross, Argyle, and Inverness, a few from the Isle of Uist and Mull, but the vast majority of the settlers came from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Of the 803 settlers who came to the Island, 75% of them came aboard “The Polly”, a two masted Square Rigger of 178 tons which landed just off the shore here, on August 7, 1803. The ships, “The Dykes” and “The Oughton” landed at Charlottetown and Georgetown respectively.
To Dr. Angus Macaulay must go the credit for organizing this church. He was second only to Lord Selkirk in the emigration expedition, a medical doctor and Chaplain in the British Army. As early as 1804 he conducted worship in a chapel he had built near his home, and this continued until 1822 when the first full time minister, Rev. John MacLennan, began his labours in the congregation. Mr. MacLennan was born in Ross-shire, Scotland in 1799. He resigned here after 26 years of faithful ministry, to return to minister to a parish in Argyleshire in his native Scotland, where he passed away three years later.
The Church was built by Robert Jones, who immigrated here in 1809. A very methodical man, he kept a diary of his daily activities. The Church design is distinctly Sir Christopher Wren. The original shingles are still on the church, hand split and planed by a “Frow” used with a wooden mallet. Shingles were attached to the building with iron nails made by the local blacksmith.
Gaelic was the mother tongue of these early settlers, thus the 10:00 am service was in Gaelic. This service was terminated about 1910. The following clergy have ministered at St. John’s: The Reverends Alexander MacKay (1855-1859); Alexander MacLean (1859-1877); A.S. Stewart (1879-1888); A. MacL. Sinclair (1888-1906); S. D. MacPhee (1906-1909); J.W. MacKenzie (1910-1925); T. A. Rodger (1928-1931); D. Lloyd Griffiths (1931-1936); Wallace Wadland (1937-1941); E. C. Evans (supply minister 1941-1947); R. S. Quigley (1948-1951); James Heathwood (1951-1955); Donald Nicholson (1956-1967); Raymond L. Gillis (1968-1979); M. G. Fawcett (1981-1986); J. A. McGowan (supply minister 1986-1987); Roger W. MacPhee (1987- 2023); Rev. William T. Henbest (2024- Present).
From this Church some twelve ministers and numerous short-term missionaries and mission teams have gone out into the world doing the Lord’s work.
The names of the first elders were: Dr. Macaulay, Murdock Gillis, Evander MacRae, Donald Murchison, John MacDonald, and Donald Nicholson.
The present elders are Gus Banfill (Clerk of Session), Peter Penny, Justin MacLeod, Rynier Carpendale, John MacPhee, Sarah Buell, and Graham Larsen.
To Dr. Angus Macaulay must go the credit for organizing this church. He was second only to Lord Selkirk in the emigration expedition, a medical doctor and Chaplain in the British Army. As early as 1804 he conducted worship in a chapel he had built near his home, and this continued until 1822 when the first full time minister, Rev. John MacLennan, began his labours in the congregation. Mr. MacLennan was born in Ross-shire, Scotland in 1799. He resigned here after 26 years of faithful ministry, to return to minister to a parish in Argyleshire in his native Scotland, where he passed away three years later.
The Church was built by Robert Jones, who immigrated here in 1809. A very methodical man, he kept a diary of his daily activities. The Church design is distinctly Sir Christopher Wren. The original shingles are still on the church, hand split and planed by a “Frow” used with a wooden mallet. Shingles were attached to the building with iron nails made by the local blacksmith.
Gaelic was the mother tongue of these early settlers, thus the 10:00 am service was in Gaelic. This service was terminated about 1910. The following clergy have ministered at St. John’s: The Reverends Alexander MacKay (1855-1859); Alexander MacLean (1859-1877); A.S. Stewart (1879-1888); A. MacL. Sinclair (1888-1906); S. D. MacPhee (1906-1909); J.W. MacKenzie (1910-1925); T. A. Rodger (1928-1931); D. Lloyd Griffiths (1931-1936); Wallace Wadland (1937-1941); E. C. Evans (supply minister 1941-1947); R. S. Quigley (1948-1951); James Heathwood (1951-1955); Donald Nicholson (1956-1967); Raymond L. Gillis (1968-1979); M. G. Fawcett (1981-1986); J. A. McGowan (supply minister 1986-1987); Roger W. MacPhee (1987- 2023); Rev. William T. Henbest (2024- Present).
From this Church some twelve ministers and numerous short-term missionaries and mission teams have gone out into the world doing the Lord’s work.
The names of the first elders were: Dr. Macaulay, Murdock Gillis, Evander MacRae, Donald Murchison, John MacDonald, and Donald Nicholson.
The present elders are Gus Banfill (Clerk of Session), Peter Penny, Justin MacLeod, Rynier Carpendale, John MacPhee, Sarah Buell, and Graham Larsen.