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Groomsport Parish Church

The church, which is a “B1” listed building, was designed by Sir Charles Lanyon. It was built in 1841 as a “Chapel of Ease” and was served by a curate of Bangor Parish. John Waring Maxwell donated the land and made a contribution towards the building costs.

Groomsport Parish was created in 1853 and a Rector was appointed.

The church has been extended twice. In 1909 the nave was built and in 1932 the transepts were added.

Find out more about the Parish Church at: https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Groomsport-Parish-Church-v1.pdf
and https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Parish-Church-name.pdf

Groomsport Parish Church

Groomsport Parish Church - Early 20th Century

Confirmation at the Parish Church, 1926

Mothers’ Union at Glenganagh, date unknown

Renovation of Groomsport Parish Church, ?1950

Albertville / The Old Rectory, Bangor Road, 2023

The Maxwell Hall

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Groomsport Parish Church

Groomsport Church was built in 1841 as a “Chapel of Ease” for Bangor Parish. The parish of Groomsport was created in 1853. The church was designed by Sir Charles Lanyon and was originally a simple rectangular building with a tower.  It was extended twice. In 1909, the chancel (on the left) was added in memory of Robert Perceval Maxwell and in the 1930s the transepts were added to create more space for the congregation.

Find out more about Groomsport Parish Church at: https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Groomsport-Parish-Church-v1.pdf
and
https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Parish-Church-name.pdf

0023 Copyright: Dan Parsons. https://www.parsonsart.co.uk

Groomsport Parish Church

The photograph was taken before 1932 when the transepts were added to the church. The chancel (on the left of the photograph) had been added in 1909.

0048 Hurst and Co. Fine Art Warehouse. Real Photo Series. North Down Museum.

Copyright: Ards and North Down Borough Council
Find out more about Groomsport Parish Church at the following:
https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Groomsport-Parish-Church-v1.pdf
and
https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Parish-Church-name.pdf

Confirmation at the Parish Church, 1926

 
Back row: Roy Hillis, Winnie Waterson, Grosvenor Evans, Billy Niblock, unknown girl, Alfie Waterson, Alec Waterson, Rachel Orr, unknown girl, Kitty Niblock, Lena Orr, unknown.
 
Middle Row: Jimmy McIntosh, Nellie Waterson, Rev. Harris, 3 unknown girls, Jack Kinroy, unknown.
 
Front row: Unknown, Robbo Waterson, John Waterson. (information from Roberta Waterson Fraser)

 

0067 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore

If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.

Mothers’ Union at Glenganagh, date unknown

Glenganagh was owned by the Kingan family.

0123 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore

If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.

Renovation of Groomsport Parish Church, ?1950

The accompanying article in the County Down Spectator reported that £20,000 was being spent on removing windows and doors for renovation, repointing the tower and work on the roof.

0220 Photograph supplied by the Groomsport Parish Archive

Albertville / The Old Rectory, Bangor Road, 2023

Groomsport’s first Presbyterian minister, Rev Isaac Mack built Albertville, probably in the early 1860s, on the site of a previous building known as Rose Lodge. Is is likely that he named the house in memory of Queen Victoria’s consort, Prince Albert, who died in 1861.

Rev Mack lived in the house until his death in 1880. The house then became the Rectory for the Parish Church. The parish Church sold Albertville in 1968.

0269 Photograph by Perry Moore.

If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.

The Maxwell Hall

When Robert Perceval-Maxwell built the Maxwell Hall in 1894, it was recorded as being a Sunday School. The Maxwell Hall has been the home of Groomsport Masonic Lodge since 1911. After the deaths of the Misses Perceval-Maxwell, who were the trustees of the Hall, in the 1920s, it was gifted to the Parish Church. The painting shows the original hall to which a number of extensions have been added over the years.

0025 Copyright: Dan Parsons. https://www.parsonsart.co.uk