Lisburn Christ Church

History

Around 1840 the population of Lisburn increased considerably owing to the flax spinning mills and threadworks, and it was felt that further church accommodation should be provided in the town by building a chapel of ease in which free sittings would be available for working people. A site was found on the Hillsborough Road. Plans and specifications were prepared by Sir Charles Lanyon, and two local builders, Arthur Morgan and James Vernon, were appointed to build the church at a total cost of £4,800. The building, then called the New Church, was opened for worship on 20 November 1842.

For its first 21 years the New Church remained under the general control of Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn, as a chapel of ease. A Deed of Endowment dated 15 September 1863 assigned it a parish, the church was consecrated on 24 September 1863 and the Rev William D. Pounder was appointed perpetual curate and rector, holding the incumbency for 21 years.

The parishioners contributed £26,000, half the cost of the parish's daughter church, St Paul's, Lisburn, which was opened in 1964. A rectory was built on the site adjacent to the church in 2006.

The building

The church was built with seating for 500 worshippers. After the religious revival of 1859 the north and south transepts and the gallery were constructed, providing accommodation for a further 280, and a special service on 10 June 1860 marked the completion of the work.

During the incumbency of the Rev Canon Arthur Noble (1961-82) a programme of building, reconstruction and refurbishment costing approximately £150,000 was carried out. The Nicholson Memorial Hall was modernised, and a new minor hall, porch and games room were built and opened on 9 January 1976. In 1982 the porch of the church was rebuilt and enlarged. In a further programme costing over £1,000,000 the church was treated for the effects of dry rot and new pews and flooring were installed, and the parish halls were renovated, the renovation of the halls being dedicated on 3 November 1995. The roof was re-slated in 2009, and in 2011 the east window was replaced and the sandstone around the three main windows repaired.

Notable features

The Nicholson Memorial Hall was erected in 1864 for a Sunday school by Mrs Nicholson in memory of her six children. The Nicholson Memorial aisle, designed by Thomas Drew, was consecrated on 31 October 1874 by the Bishop of the United Diocese, the Rt Rev R. Knox, as a memorial to Mrs Nicholson.