Parish of Killead
Presbyterian Meeting House.

The Presbyterian Meeting house is situated in the town land of Tully, near the north centre of the parish. It is a clumsy old structure, consisting of a main aisle measuring 23 by 15 feet 6 inches stands at right angles to the north centre of the former. It is well fitted up internally and contains, including the gallery, 80 pews, capable of accommodating 640 persons. The ascent to the gallery is from the outside by a flight of clumsy stone steps. In front of the gallery, opposite the pulpit, is an 8 day clock, the gift of the Revd Andrew Hume, a former minister of the congregation.

This meeting house was erected about the year 1750. In 1829 it underwent a thorough repair, having been newly roofed and newly fitted up with pews. Its repairs cost 430 pounds, which was raised by local subscriptions from the inhabitants of this and some of the neighbouring districts. It is at present in excellent order.

In the burial ground (which is in a very neglected state) a handsome monument consisting of (a) square column of cut stone, surmounted by something resembling a grenade, was erected by his friends, at a cost of 100 pounds, to the memory of Mr. Samuel Cunningham, (see photos below) formerly of this parish, who died abroad in 1796. Its 4 sides are covered with the records of his unusually numerous virtues and amiable qualities, among which in particular is mentioned the bequest to the poor of this parish and the reasons they have for praising his memory. This part of the epitaph might perhaps have been better omitted, as it is universally asserted that the sum bequeathed to the poor was partly expended by his executors in erecting the aforesaid monument, for, so far, the poor have but little cause for rejoicing and there is as little chance of their having more.

Religion.

The congregation of the Presbyterian meeting house is in connection with the Synod of Ulster and amounts to 292 families who pay stipend and 50 who do not. They live chiefly in this parish, but several come from the parish of Templepatrick and grange of Muckamore. The Revd Joseph McKee is the present minister (and) receives 100 pounds late Irish currency regium donum and 71 pounds 12s per annum stipend from his congregation, besides a free house and 6 acres of land.

Sunday Schools.

Held in the day schoolroom (the session house of the Presbyterian meeting house) in the town land of Tully, established in 1831; 3 male teachers, total 3, superintended and managed by the Revd Joseph McKee, Presbyterian minister; number of scholars: 4 Established Church, 34 Presbyterians, 2 Roman Catholics, 24 males, 16 females, total 40, 20 exclusively Sunday school scholars; hours of attendance: from 9 until 11 am; instruction: spelling and reading, the books of the Sunday School Society of Ireland; commences with singing and prayer.

The Killead meeting house Sunday school is held in the day schoolhouse at the meeting house, established in 1831, superintended by the minister, the Revd Joseph McKee; 3 teachers, all males; average attendance 40, viz. 24 males and 16 females, Established church 4, Presbyterians 34 and 2 Roman Catholics; exclusively Sunday school scholars 20. The Sunday School Society for Ireland give books free and bibles at a reduced price; hours of attendance from 9 till 11am; commences with singing and prayer and concludes with the same. 9th August 1838.

Public Buildings.

A Presbyterian meeting house, town land of Tully, was built about 86 years ago, exact date of erection and original cost could not be ascertained from it being so old. Was formerly in very bad repair, but in the year 1829 the parishioners subscribed 430 pounds for a gallery and new pews, which have made it capable of containing 650 persons commodiously. Style: an oblong square, with a porch facing east.

Presbyterian Meeting House.

The Presbyterian meeting house is in the town land of Tully and of this shape (ground plan, "T-shape") and measures interiorly from "a" to "b" 62 by 23 feet, with a door on each end. The aisle or additional part, from "c" to "d" measures 15 and a half by 23 feet wide, with a door on the end, the entrance to the gallery by stone steps outside. Total pews 80, viz. 46 in the lower part and 34 in the gallery, all single, each 9 feet by 3 and would contain about 8 persons. The aisle between the pews is 5 and a half feet wide. There are 10 oblong windows with 2 arched, much larger than the oblong. A good 8 day clock is placed in the front of the gallery, opposite the pulpit, which was the gift of the late revd Andrew Hume, a minister of the congregation.

The meeting house is in very good repair, the repairs of which during the ministry of the present clergyman amounted to 430 pounds, at 3 different times collected from the members of the congregation, except the following subscriptions: General Pakenham 10 pounds; Revd William George Macartney, rector, 5 pounds; Messrs James Macauley and sons, Glenoak, 2 pounds 2s; James Cunningham Esq, Belmont, 5 pounds 5s; James Murray Esquire, Tully, 3 pounds; James Moore Esquire, Clover Hill, 1 pound 1 s; Richard Dunn Esquire 5 pounds; Revd Robert Young 2 pounds; Edward McDonnell (McDonald) Esquire Glenarm Castle 5 pounds; Revd James McMullan, parish priest, 2 pounds; General O’Neill 5 pounds; Lord Belfast 5 pounds; James Owens Esq, high sherriff, 3 pounds; John Owens Esquire, J.P., Ballyvoy, 1 pound; James Gibson Esquire, Belfast, 1 pound 1s; William (Gibson?) Esquire 1 pound; total 56 pounds 9s, with a few other smaller contributions which are not worth notice.

None of the above are members of the congregation. From the Revd Joseph McKee, minister.

Ministers.

The Revd Joseph McKee resides in the Glebe House of the congregation (a few yards from the meeting house), which is a good 1-storey house, slated, to which is attached 6 acres of good glebe land, on which the meeting house, session house, which is the national schoolhouse, a Masonic lodge room and sexton’s house all stand.

Original Clergy

The house is a gift of Arthur Henry Esquire and the land was a grant of a Mr McMullan, who was then proprietor to the Revd Freeland, who was then minister of the congregation. Mr McMullan said as his name was Freeland, he should have the land free, which still continues free. Second Revd Worland; third Rev John McConnell, who was 34 years a minister of the congregation; he died 1770 aged 63. Fourth Revd Andrew Hume, fifth Revd Robert Orr, who continued 47 years a minister and died 1833 aged 74 years. Fourth (sixth?) the present, the Revd Joseph McKee, who succeeded him on the 5th September 1826.

Congregation

The congregation consists of 292 families, average each family, at 5 persons, amounts to 1460, with upwards of 50 families who claim connection but pay no stipend. Congregation comes from the parishes of Killead, Templepatrick and a few from the grange of Muckamore.

Income of Minister

The income of the minister is 100 pounds regium donum and 71 pounds 12s stipend, which is the produce of the 80 pews in the meeting house, with a good house and 6 acres of good land. The meeting house collection on each Sunday amounts to 8s per.

Meeting House Records.

Baptisms in 1833 were 63, 64 in 1834, 77 in 1835, 62 in 1836, 47 in 1837, total 313.
Marriages: 24 in 1833, 17 in 1834, 20 in 1835, 11 in 1836, 12 in 1837, total 84.
Communicants at may 1833 sacrament 297, in October 269; in May 1834, 290, at October 276; at May 1835, 300 at October 273; at May 1836, 284; at October 225; at May 1837, 272, at October 275.
The above are for the 2 sacraments in each year; a choice may be taken.

The following names can be found today on the headstones in the grounds of this church:

Ardbuckle
Armstrong
Rev W.J. Baird, B.A.
Balmer
Beggs
Bell, Cochranestown
Bell, Tully
Benson
Birch
Bole
Boyd
Bryson
Campbell
Gardner
Ceaser
Christie
Clarke
Coulter
Cousley
Craig
Crowhurst
Cunningham, Crookedstone
Cunningham, Killealy
Curry, Ballynadrentagh
Davie
Davison
Donaldson
Drennan
Eakin
Erskine
Erskine, Ballyquillan
Erskine, Seacash
Gault
George
Gilchrest, Ballyfernott
Gilliland
Glover
Graham
Hall
Hamill
Rev. Samuel Hamilton, B.A.
Harkness, Seacash
Harper, Ballygonnell
Heaney
Heaney, Tully Cottage, Killead
Henderson
Herdman
Hume
Hunter
Irvine
Jenkins
Johnston
Johnston, Crookedstone
Kerr
Killen, Kells & Killead
Kirk
Kirkpatrick
Leathem
Lewis
Livingstone
Loughlin
Macartney, Dundesart Cottage
Marshall
Martin
Mackay of Killealy
Mackey
Mayers
McCauley
McCann, Belfast
McClelland, Tobernaveen
McClenaghan
McClurg
McComb
McCord
McCourt, Cairnyhill
McCraight
McElrath, Mill farm
McFadden
McIlwaine
McKeag
Rev. Joseph McKee
McLarnon
McMillan, Dungonnell
McNiece
McQuillan
Rev. H.R. Mecredy
Megarry
Meharg
Millar
Millar, Ballyrobin
Milliken, Ballytweedy
Molyneaux
Molyneaux, Dungonnell
Moore
Morrison, Crookedstone
Morrow
Mullen
Neill, Ballyrobin House
Nicholl, Ballymacilhoyle
Nicholl, Tully
Nickles, Ballynageragh
Nixon
Noble
Patterson
Patton
Pickin
Poots
Porter
Reid
Reynolds
Robb
Robb, Straidhavern
Robb, Tully
Robertson, Ballygomartin
Robinson
Russell
Samson
Scott
Scott, British
Scriven
Shannon
Shannon, Straidhavern
Shaw
Smyth
Steen
Suffern
Toland
Tuff
Weir
White
Whiteside
Whiteside, Ballyginniff
Whiteside, Diamond Road, Crumlin
Wilson
Wilson, Seacash

Mark of Respect.

A few days ago the parishioners of the Rev. Henry R Mecredy, Killead completed the horse-work labour on the manse farm for this season, according to their annual custom. Some months previously the committee of the congregation presented him with a valuable horse and set of silver-mounted harness as a testimony of their appreciation of his pulpit services and general usefulness, not only among his own parishioners, but in surrounding districts. The ladies of the congregation, in addition to hanging the pulpit, also presented Mrs. Mecredy with a valuable piece of plate, consisting of cruet-stand and tea-pot.

Burglary at Killead
Money boxes Plundered in Presbyterian Meetinghouse.

At a Special Court held in Crumlin on 11th inst. - Colonel McClintock, J.P. presiding - District - Inspector Heatley, Antrim charged William Reid, Belfast, with having on the night of the 19th ult., entered the Presbyterian Church at Killead, and stolen about 30s therefrom.

Rev. J.A.H. Irwin deposed that he resided within fifty yards of the church, and on the afternoon of Sunday, 18th ult., he saw it securely locked up. In consequence of a report made to him by Mrs. Cummins, sextoness, he went to the church on the following Tuesday, and found that a strong wooden box in which was kept a number of missionary boxes was missing. Eight boxes were left and three taken. He noticed that a tin box was also broken open, and its contents - cash-box, documents and money - were gone. On Wednesday he paid another visit to the church, and found under the stairs two missionary boxes, and a third in another part of the church. Seventeen shillings were extracted from one, and from 2s to 3s from the others. He found a broken hammer, poker and harrow pin, the two former instruments being the property of the church. Some of the windows were pulled down and he picked up a pair of boots and socks beside a tombstone.

Margaret Cummins gave corroborative evidence.

John Henderson, schoolmaster, proved the contents of the mission boxes.

William McQuillan deposed that at about 7.30 on Tuesday evening, 20th ult., he was driving towards the church, when he saw the prisoner coming from the direction of it.

Robert Heaney, Straidhavern stated that on the Tuesday night he saw the prisoner coming along the road from the direction of the church; he was barefooted.

James Harkness, Nutt’s Corner, said that between 8 and 9 o’clock that Tuesday evening prisoner came to him barefooted and asked for an old pair of boots, stating that he had walked from Glenavy, and had slept in a cowshed all night. Witness gave him the boots, also some tea and bread.

Mr John Herdman, Dundrod, having been examined. Prisoner was returned for trial to the assizes.

Church ransacked

William Reid was charged with breaking and entering the Presbyterian Church at Killead on the 19th February and stealing 30s. Prisoner was not professionally represented.

Mrs. Cummings, wife of the sexton of the church gave evidence as to finding a number of the missionary boxes broken and the church disarranged. There was a pair of boots found, and it was proved that the accused was seen barefooted in the district on the day of the occurrence. When arrested in Belfast by Detective - Constable Packenham, he had in his possession a sum of money and a key, which was identified as that belonging to a wardrobe in the vestry of the church.

Prisoner was found guilty.

Killead Presbyterian Church has made out a unanimous call to Rev. W.W. Porter, minister of Bailieborough Presbyterian Church, County Cavan, in succession to Rev.C.E. Brennan, now of Whitehead. Mr. Porter has been in charge of the present assignment for the past two years. The call will be presented to him early in January.