Stained Glass Window
This stunning stained-glass window is one of Ballymena’s best kept secrets. It celebrates the great Ulster revival of 1859. In fact, it’s probably the only window in the world which celebrates a spiritual revival.
Stained Glass Window
This stunning stained-glass window is one of Ballymena’s best kept secrets. It celebrates the great Ulster revival of 1859. In fact, it’s probably the only window in the world which celebrates a spiritual revival.
Inscription
“In memory of the Rev Samuel James Moore, pastor of this congregation from 1850, and in this Church from 1863 till his death in 1876, and of the gracious Revival of religion in 1859 in which he took so active a part. This window was erected in 1884 and restored in 1928.”
Laid Waste
To cut a long story short, in 1859 the Lord visited Ulster with Holy Spirit revival which produced a river of blessing. The origin of this time of deep-seated refreshing was a prayer meeting at the old school house in the district of Kells and Connor. Once the flame had been ignited, it quickly spread to Ahoghill and Ballymena, then travelled up the road to Ballymoney and Coleraine, before engulfing the entire Province of Ulster. The fear of God fell on entire communities as multitudes came under conviction of sin and were wonderfully converted to Christ. This was spiritual and moral reclamation on a grand scale with an estimated 100,000 souls saved – 60,000 of whom were reckoned to be Presbyterians. New Churches sprang up all over the Province, this being one of them. West Church, with its spiritual DNA firmly rooted in revival, had its first service on Sunday 1st January 1863.
Sadly, the original building was extensively damaged by a fire on the 17th October, 1926. Old photographs show a burned-out shell, with nothing but the four walls remaining. Miraculously the window survived with only minor damage. The minister at that time, the Rev Dr R S Craig, was in the United States of America on a preaching tour. He received the news by cablegram which simply contained the words “Isaiah 64 v11.” On opening his Bible at this verse, he read,
“Our holy and our beautiful house where our fathers praised thee is burned up with fire and all our pleasant things are laid waste.”
The Church was rebuilt with the addition of new halls and opened on 14th November, 1928.
To cut a long story short, in 1859 the Lord visited Ulster with Holy Spirit revival which produced a river of blessing. The origin of this time of deep-seated refreshing was a prayer meeting at the old school house in the district of Kells and Connor. Once the flame had been ignited, it quickly spread to Ahoghill and Ballymena, then travelled up the road to Ballymoney and Coleraine, before engulfing the entire Province of Ulster. The fear of God fell on entire communities as multitudes came under conviction of sin and were wonderfully converted to Christ. This was spiritual and moral reclamation on a grand scale with an estimated 100,000 souls saved – 60,000 of whom were reckoned to be Presbyterians. New Churches sprang up all over the Province, this being one of them. West Church, with its spiritual DNA firmly rooted in revival, had its first service on Sunday 1st January 1863.
Sadly, the original building was extensively damaged by a fire on the 17th October, 1926. Old photographs show a burned-out shell, with nothing but the four walls remaining. Miraculously the window survived with only minor damage. The minister at that time, the Rev Dr R S Craig, was in the United States of America on a preaching tour. He received the news by cablegram which simply contained the words “Isaiah 64 v11.” On opening his Bible at this verse, he read,
“Our holy and our beautiful house where our fathers praised thee is burned up with fire and all our pleasant things are laid waste.”
The Church was rebuilt with the addition of new halls and opened on 14th November, 1928.
