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HISTORY of Newcastle Baptist Church
Newcastle Baptist Church was founded on Friday the 20th February 1959 with 12 members. On 12th March 1959 James Irvine was inducted as its first pastor. A Manse was built for his use at 35 Tullybrannigan Road. Over the next three years a further 36 members were added. The Church met in the Annesley Mansions (now Newcastle centre) until the church building was opened on 25th March 1967. the following insert appeared in the Summer editions of The Irish Baptist in 1959 : 'Visitors to Newcastle, Co. Down are invited to the services of the Newcastle Church held each Lord's Day at 11.30 am and 7.00 pm in the Annesley Rooms, Main Street' Pastor Jim Irvine retired on Friday 22nd February 1980 and died on 21-02-1983 aged 68. Mrs Irvine died on 12-05-1988. They are buried in Movilla Cemetery Newtownards.
In the following article from 'The Irish Baptist' of December 1964 Sam Hamilton gives an account of the foundation of the church.
Robert Martin was inducted as Pastor on the 2nd May 1981. He had previously ministered for many years in Limavady (1946-1970) and Grove Baptist (1970-1981). During his ministry the site was purchased next to the building and used as a car park ; the front of the church was modernised, and the accommodation to the rear of the main auditorium was enlarged into a two storey block with an upstairs room for the Sunday School and mid-week meeting. Pastor Martin exercised a valued teaching ministry that built on the foundation laid under Pastor Irvine. The membership grew to its peak of over 90 members during this time. Pastor and Mrs Martin retired to Bangor in May 1992.
He had previously been an assistant to Derek Prime in Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh (1986-1989) and also pastored a Baptist Church in Peebles in Scotland (1989-1993). During his ministry a church hall and several smaller rooms were added in 1999, and officially opened by Pastor Robert Martin in February 2000.
He served until 31 August 2005, when he moved to take up the pastorate of Comber Baptist Church. A farewell service was held on Friday 16th September 2005. Prior to Pastor Firth's departure it was agreed to replace and enlarge the main front entrance to the church building. This was completed and paid for over the three and a half years of the pastoral vacancy. BELOW: Old Porch / Entrance 1967-2007
At a Church members' meeting on 10th December 2008 it was agreed to issue a call to Jonathan Murphy to be the next Pastor of Newcastle Baptist Church. On 10th January 2009 Jonathan accepted the call to come to Newcastle. A special evening was held in Glenada on 26th March 2009 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the foundation of the church; and special 50th anniversary services were held on Sunday 30th March 2009 at which Pastor James Byers was the guest speaker. Dr Jonathan Murphy was inducted to the pastorate of Newcastle Baptist Church on Friday 3rd April 2009.
Samuel Hamilton
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Peter Firth was inducted as Pastor on Friday 11th March 1994 
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