Situated centrally in Bangor on the Hamilton Road, we are but a short walk from the junction with Main Street, Castle Street and Hamilton Road.

See Town Map on "Where are we?" page.

Early Methodists in Bangor, members of the Bangor Society (New Connexion) worshipped in a little place called Bethel, formed out of two small houses, which stood at the junction of Castle Street and Hamilton Road, on the site now occupied by St. Comgall's Parish Church.

The first Wesleyan Sanctuary was erected in Sandy Row - now Queens Parade - on the site occupied by the present Queens Parade Methodist Church.

In 1890 services were started in the Good Templar Hall in Hamilton Road, close to where our church now stands. At the September meeting plans were submitted for a proposed new chapel in Bangor, suitable to accommodate 500 people.

In February 1891 work began on the construction of the new church - Wesley Centenary Methodist Church - and on Thursday, 17th September 1891 a large congregation attended the first of the dedicatory services, conducted by Rev. W.Guard Price.

The stone used in the building was mostly from local quarries, although the facade was of white stone from Glebe quarry with dressings of Dumfries red stone. The style was early English Gothic and most of the woodwork was of pitch-pine, including the platform type pulpit.

In March 1893 a proposal before Conference was carried establishing Bangor as a separate circuit and after an adjourned first quarterly meeting, in October it was decided to purchase the adjoining house to provide a manse. In March, 1897 plans were passed for new Sunday School premises, classrooms etc., at the rear of the Church.

1912 saw the seating capacity of the Church increased by 140 and included the installation of a Pipe Organ and Choir Stalls with an organ chamber and Vestry underneath.

February 1923, the Epworth Hall extension was proposed and the opening was celebrated in March 1924.

As the congregation of Wesley Centenary Church was growing, consideration was given to extending Wesley Centenary or building a new church at Ballyholme. This was first recorded in 1926 but it was not until February 1935 that the Circuit Trustees gave approval for the new Church at Ballyholme. Building commenced and on 13th June, 1936 Ballyholme Methodist Church was opened for Public Worship.

Electric lighting was installed in Wesley Centenary during the summer of 1944. A solid silver Christening Bowl was gifted in June 1945, and in the spring of 1946 the organ was overhauled.

The front of the church below the pulpit was completely re-designed in the spring of 1959 and a new Communion Rail was fitted across the full width of the church and in 1960 the Baptismal Font was gifted to the Church.

The old Manse alongside the Church was demolished in early 1964 and the new Minor Chapel was built on the site together with the Minor Hall and Classrooms. Extensions at the rear of the Church were also completed during 1965.

The Conference of the Methodist Church in Ireland was held in Wesley Centenary Church in June 1973 and through co-operation with other local churches the installation and ordination service of the President took place in St. Comgall's Parish Church, the original site of Bethel, just across the road. As far as is known this was the first time such Services were held in a Church other than a Methodist Church.

Further work to the fabric of the Church has been carried out in the intervening years, notably the re-design of the front of the Church including Choir, Pulpit and Communion Rail changes which was completed during early 2004.

This potted history is extracted from the book "The Story of the Century" by Philip S. Boullier to whom we are indebted.

Back to menu page.