Our current Minister, Rev. Jonathan Sloan, and his wife Amy
Our Minister - Reverend Jonathan Sloan
Rev. Jonathan Sloan took over as full time Minister and Senior Elder to the Congregation in May of 2016 following on from the retirement of our former Minister. Since then, he and his wife have become an integral part of our church family, each bringing the best of their abilities to the ministry of the OC Church.
Dr Patton comes with over 40 years experience in pastoral ministry having served as assistant at Trinity (Bangor) - 1974 to 1977 and then minister of First Dromore - February 1977 to September 1983.
Dr Patton also served at Greystone Road from September 1983 to May 1988; Lowe Memorial from May 1988 to September 2002
Dr Patton, who retired in 2015, is formerly from Portadown and he and his wife Florence, who is also formerly from Portadown, now live in Aghalee.
Dr Patton was also recently appointed as Pastoral Assistant to the Congregation of 1st Lisburn, and we are sure that all have benefited greatly from the wealth of experience, and passion for the Lord's work that he brings to his ministry.
During the Covid crisis, Dr Patton continued his ministry online by recordng a number of services for Maze Presbyteran Church, Moira. You can watch these services online on their YouTube Channel
As a congregation we continue to wish Dr. and Mrs. Patton a long and blessed retirement and assure them of our continued prayers and are grateful thanks for their long service and wise counsel.
Dr. Patton with his wife and their four Children at a celebration to mark his retirement from full time ministry
Minister Emeritus - The Very Reverend Dr. Wm. Donald Patton
Dr Patton served as Minister of the OC Church from September 2002 until he retired from full time ministry in January 2015, and it was during his time with the OC that he served as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland from 2008 until 2009.
Dr Patton comes with over 40 years experience in pastoral ministry having served as assistant at Trinity (Bangor) - 1974 to 1977 and then minister of First Dromore - February 1977 to September 1983.
Dr Patton also served at Greystone Road from September 1983 to May 1988; Lowe Memorial from May 1988 to September 2002
Dr Patton, who retired in 2015, is formerly from Portadown and he and his wife Florence, who is also formerly from Portadown, now live in Aghalee.
Dr Patton was also recently appointed as Pastoral Assistant to the Congregation of 1st Lisburn, and we are sure that all have benefited greatly from the wealth of experience, and passion for the Lord's work that he brings to his ministry.
During the Covid crisis, Dr Patton continued his ministry online by recordng a number of services for Maze Presbyteran Church, Moira. You can watch these services online on their YouTube Channel.
As a congregation we continue to wish the Dr. and Mrs. Patton a long and blessed retirments and assure them of our continued prayers and greatful thanks for their long service and wise counsel.
Clerk of Session - Mr. James Walker
Mr. James Walker took over as Clerk of Session in 2017 when the previous Clerk, Mr. Norman McFadden, stepped down from the position. Prior to that Mr. Walker served as deputy Clerk and was ordained as an elder in 1996
James has been a life long member of the OC Church, and has been actively involved in many of the ministries, including the Boys' Brigade and Youth Club where his faithful attendance and assistance was appreciated by both organisations.
The Clerk of Session takes minutes for the Session, governing body of the Local Church, and maintains all of the church's ledgers of membership, births, baptisms, deaths, and elders.
However, the role takes on a special significance well beyond its stated duties. In leadership and influence across the congregation, the Session Clerk is a partner with the Minister and often speaks for the Congregation and Elders in offering words of guidance and encouragement to the Minister.
OUR BELIEFS
Vision Statement
To know Jesus and lovingly to make Him known.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to Him as Lord and Savour and sends us out to proclaim His Lordship to the world. There is a coming and then a going.
The coming
By the word of the Gospel He calls us individually into a saving relationship with Him. He makes us part of a new community where we learn from Him through His Word and His Spirit, and minister to one another with the grace gifts He distributes. In these ways we are shaped in Christian character and living.
The going
He sends us out into the world to proclaim the Gospel by word and deed. Transformed lives and attractive Christian community authenticate the Gospel.
This coming and going is repeated continuously. As others respond to the gospel and join the Christian community, they, in turn go out with the gospel.
Our History
The original oval Church was built in 1790 on the site of the former meeting-house which had been demolished after it had fallen into a bad state of repair. The land had originally been granted to the congregation (founded 1655) by Rose, Marchioness of Antrim, only daughter of Sir Henry O'Neill of Shane's Castle, who was a great friend of Presbyterianism. The new church, built of brownish basalt rubble stones, was completed at a cost of £600
Bearing in mind the close ties between Presbyterianism in Ulster and Scotland at that time, it is possible that the oval design of the building is linked to that of St. Andrew's Church in Edinburgh which was built about six years earlier. Sir Charles Brett however considers it more likely that Roger Mulholland, the architect of the oval-shaped First Presbyterian Church in Rosemary Street, Belfast had some hand in it.
In 1829, to meet the need for extra accommodation, a gallery carried on cast iron flouted columns was added and at the same time a hexagonal porch topped by a graceful bell-tower was erected, all at a cost of £1,054. The gallery, accessed by stairs from the porch had, at that time, very little headroom and was very dark, being lighted only by the tips of the pointed windows.
In 1929 extensive alterations to the church were carried out at a total cost of £6,200.
- The walls and roof were raised and 18 oculus windows were inserted, giving more light and more headroom in the gallery. Matching stones for this was brought in by horse and cart from derelict cottages near the shores of Lough Neagh. So well was the building work done that it is only by looking very, very carefully that one can see the join between the old stonework of 1790 and that of 1929
- A nicely curved minister's room was added to the rear of the building, with internal stairs leading up to the pulpit.
- The ground floor was completely re-seated to give the pattern that we have today.
In 1949 the pipe organ was installed. Prior to that, worship had been led in the traditional Presbyterian manner by a precentor with a tuning fork or pitch pipe. No organ pipes are visible as they have been installed behind the large oval grille above the pulpit.
The installation of the organ necessitated changes to the choir area: the old enclosed choir box was replaced by rows of choir pews and the pulpit was reduced in size and set closer to the wall.
In 1956/57 the sexton's cottage, which had partially blocked the front view of the church, was demolished and a new boundary wall built using stone salvaged from the ruins of Ballymena Castle. Sandstone from the castle's chimneys was used to build the gate pillars.
Since 1974 the church has been statutorily listed (Grade A) by the Historic Buildings Council, as a building of special architectural and historic interest which contributes much to the character of the Randalstown community and to Northern Ireland's heritage.
An extensive programme of repair and renovation (1987/89) was partly funded by a grant from the Historic Buildings Council. The oculus windows were renewed, the old stained glass windows were refurbished, and a bell which had once called parishioners to worship in the South of Ireland, was installed in the bell tower which had been awaiting it for about 160 years.
In 1996 the fixed seating layout of the choir was altered and two pews removed, one on each side of the central aisle, to give a larger and more flexible open area, better suited to the changing needs of modern worship.
OTHER POINTS TO NOTE
- The original building is mainly of basalt rubble stones of random shape and size, whereas the porch is built of dressed blocks of basalt
- Galletting. In some places small stones are stuck in the mortar, particularly in the lower courses of the main building.
- Above the front foor of the porch there is an interesting oval window and beneath is a stone panel with the inscription, "Built in 1790, Thomas Henry, Minister."
- A handsome double staircase sweeps up from the front door of the porch to the gallery.
- Despite its oval shape the interior of the church is in keeping with the traditional Presbyterian T-plan (central pulpit on south wall facing the main aisle and with a subsidiary doorway at each end of the cross aisle.)
- Some pews, particularly in the gallery, but a few on the ground floor, still have doors, reminiscent of the old family box pews of yesteryear.