Cavan Presbyterian Churches

The Cavan Presbyterian (PCI) Union of churches includes the following:

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BELLASIS church

(at Drumgora, on the busy, fast N3 near Virginia) 

SUNDAY SERVICES, at 10 a.m. each first and third Sunday

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HISTORY:

Bellasis congregation began in 1833. Its first minister, the Rev. King founded the famous King’s School, providing English and classical lessons. On its site today, Bellasis hall continues to provide a lively Learning Programme through Children’s Clubs, while its Teens Fellowship joins the other three churches at Cavan church hall and manse for the Youth Bible Studies for new communicants and older students.

Its newly renovated Church Building was opened in March 2014, and the new organ is a special gift.

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CAVAN church

(at 15 Farnham St., Cavan Town) 

SUNDAY SERVICES at 11.30 a.m. each 2nd and 4th Sunday

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HISTORY:

Cavan congregation began in the 1830s.

The present minister began in Nov. 1984 and continues a lively Gospel ministry for all ages.

People from town and community have often enjoyed free hospitality on St. Patricks’ Day

as the Annual Parade passes by the church gates, plus the classical musicals and

Gospel messages at our Christmas Peace Galas, Country Gospel Concerts and Harvest Thanksgivings.  

Our Breifne Summer Clubs have often enrolled over 100 children, with an energetic  team of leaders, mostly local, and a few  faithful helpers from afar.

But we have now developed a steadier ongoing work with children and young people every month rather than just one week in Summer, with the Bible in the children's hands,

as they open and read and get to know it as the greatest Book in God's good world.

The Cavan School of Theology (CST), founded and directed by our minister, runs Courses of Study on and off campus, for all ages, by invitation at various church and community venues.

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CROGHAN church

 (one mile out of Killeshandra Town, on the Newtowngore Rd)

SUNDAY SERVICES at 10 a.m. on every 2nd and 4th Sunday

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HISTORY

Croghan (sometimes spelt as 'Croaghan' in old historical literature) is one of the earliest Presbyterian groups established during the Ulster Plantation. It developed with the new town of Killeshandra in the1600s. Later, the present building was erected in 1742 during the ministry of the Rev. George Carson. Croaghan Church welcomes people from the community to her annual Harvest Thanksgivings, her Good Friday Choral Evenings, and June Children’s Day services and other occasions shared with Drumkeeran. The building enjoys modern facilities since major renovations in 1997, but the original stone baptismal font from the 1600s is still in use in the church today. 

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DRUMKEERAN church (on the road marked L 1528, Co. Cavan)

SUNDAY SERVICES, to which visitors are especially welcomed:

At 12.30 p.m. on 1st and 3rd Sundays; and in Summer Months at 12.15 p.m.

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HISTORY

Drumkeeran is Croghan’s daughter church. Built in the 1800s, Drumkeeran is a good example of the simple and restful design of the standard Presbyterian "meeting house." The central position of the pulpit at the front signifies that the main focus in worship is the Hearing of God’s Word. The Burning Bush emblem on pulpit-falls bears the Latin Words 'Ardens Sed Virens,' which mean ‘burning but living,’ based on Exodus 3, where the Lord spoke to Moses from the Burning Bush. God still speaks to us through His Word, faithfully and passionately expounded from the Scriptures in our pulpits, and we are blessed to "hear it, retain it, and by persevering, produce a good crop." (Luke 8 v 15)

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Members from Croghan, Drumkeeran, Bellasis and Cavan churches joined up to form

a Church Choir which presented Gospel Musicals at our churches and at community venues.

The PRAISE BAND includes the minister and Manuel Mackarel, Dylan Conway and Michael Lawson

,using bass guitar, electric guitar, 12-String acoustic, drums, tin whistle and piano.

 Sunday Worship music on organ is provided by

Irene Harkness (Drumkeeran), Manuel Mackarel and Noeleen McConkey (Cavan)

and the Minister in Bellasis and in Croghan.

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CARRIGALLEN CHURCH, Co. Leitrim:

Included also in this group is CARRIGALLEN Church which was closed in 1980 but was renovated during the present ministry, and hosts Annual Summer Praise Celebrations. Carrigallen is the only Presbyterian church still 'functioning' to a degree in Co. Leitrim.

The church fills to capacity with people of all denominations at its Annual Summer Praise at 3.30 on whichever Summer month falls on a fifth Sunday. Our local Church Choir and Praise Band has often led the music, plus guest soloists, musicians and choirs from Ballinaglera, Florencecourt and Boho.

Guest speakers have included former moderators and others, plus musicians and singers such as George Hamilton IV in Country Gospel, world renowned Gospel pianist Huntley Brown,

world renowned violinist Vladimir Jablokov,

and soloists Michael Lawson, Roy Crowe and Angela Flanagan.

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THE MINISTER

Ministering in the Cavan group of churches (since 1984) is the Rev. Dr. Jean Mackarel,

wife of Nigel for 44 years (in 2023) and mother of two sons, Thanael and Manuel,

and grandmother of two boys, Reuben (aged 9 in 2023) and Gideon (aged 6 in 2023).

Rev. Dr. Jean builds up the flock in the Christian faith, through the clear and passionate

exposition of God’s Word as the story of Covenant Redemptive History, each Sunday,

and in our CST midweek courses, and in children's Clubs and Youth Fellowships.

Our minister engages with Senior Citizens Groups, at Day Care Centres, Nursing Homes

and provides music for their seasonal gatherings at Easter and Harvest, Christmas and other occasions.

The Wednesday morning CST Classes are designed especially with Senior Citizens in mind.