Early churches in Bangor parish

[dollard]

My Burns ancestors were in Ballygrot in Bangor parish at least by 1780. The only Presbyterian churches I can find in the area don't seem to have started up until the 1840's. I wonder where Presbyterians would have gone for church rituals in the 1700's in this area?

[Christopher]

" A History of Congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland  1610 - 1982 "
I paid a visit to the local library and had a look at this book as I was sure that there were Presbyterians in Bangor in the early 1600s as the local landlords were from Presbyterian families.

Between 1623 - 1636 they used Bangor Abbey. In 1668 a Presbyterian meeting house was built at Fisher Hill (now known as Victoria Road) in the town. In the mid 1700s a new meeting hall was built at Quay Street and in the mid 1800s the congregation moved from there to a Church in Upper Main Street. In Groomsport, about four miles from Bangor a new congregation started in 1841 and until their church was built in 1843 their prayer meetings were held in private houses. 

[dollard]

Thanks Christopher. I'll have to see if I can find that book. I guess none of those early church records are available as I can't see them listed anywhere. My relatives lived in Ballygrot. I wonder if they could have used the church in Dundonald-it has records going back to 1678. Or would they have to stay within their parish?

[Christopher]

You may have to look in the Church of Ireland Records - the explanation is contained in this URL. Records for Bangor Abbey could be a possible starting point - http://www.proni.gov.uk/records/church.htm

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[dollard]

Thanks again. I have so much to learn about finding Irish records.