Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster

Distinct from Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland and Free Church of Scotland (post
1900)

The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster (Irish: Eaglais

Free Presbyterian Church
Phreispitéireach Saor Uladh) is a Calvinist denomination founded
by Ian Paisley in 1951.[note 1] Doctrinally, the church describes
of Ulster
itself as fundamentalist, evangelical, and separatist, and is part of
the reformed fundamentalist movement. Most of its members live
in Northern Ireland, where the church is headquartered, and in
County Donegal. The church has additional congregations in the
Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and Australia,[3] and a sister
denomination in North America, the Free Presbyterian Church of
North America, which has congregations in Canada and the
United States. It also has a sister denomination in Nepal which was Classification Protestant
formed from the Nepal mission to the Unreached in November Orientation Fundamentalist
2013.[4] Calvinism

John Armstrong was Deputy Moderator of the General Assembly Polity Presbyterian
of the Church, and became Moderator in 2020, with Colin Mercer Moderator John Armstrong
from Omagh as Deputy Moderator; Armstrong succeeded Gordon
Associations Whitefield
Dane, minister of the founding church in Crossgar.
College of the
Bible
Founding
Region mainly Northern

The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster began on 17 March 1951 Ireland but also
(St Patrick's Day) as the result of a conflict between some Great Britain,
members of the local Lissara Presbyterian[5] congregation in Republic of
Crossgar, County Down, Northern Ireland, and the Down Ireland and the
Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. At a meeting on Isle of Man[1]
8 January 1951, the Down Presbytery banned the elders of the Founder Ian Paisley
local congregation from using the church hall for a Gospel
mission. When two elders refused to accept the Presbytery Origin 17 March 1951
decision, they were immediately suspended. As a result of this Crossgar,
disagreement with the Presbytery, five of the seven session Northern Ireland
members, all the Sunday School teachers, and 60 members of the Separated from Presbyterian
congregation withdrew from the Down Presbytery and the Church in Ireland
Presbyterian Church in Ireland.[6]
Separations FPCNA
College lecturers of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland have Congregations 61 (Northern
suggested that the above story, though often quoted, is incomplete. Ireland)
[2]
While the Gospel Mission was a reason for the breakaway church
forming, the Presbytery objection was not to the Mission or to the 22 (elsewhere)[3]
Gospel, but to the invited preacher, Ian Paisley. The Lissara Members 15,000
Mission went ahead with a different preacher and Lissara
Presbyterian Church continued to exist (albeit with fewer Official website www
members), and a number of dissenting members later returned. .freepresbyterian
However Free Presbyterians from Crossgar dispute that there ever .org (http://www.fr
was such a mission. eepresbyterian.or
The departing elders felt the Presbyterian Church in Ireland g/)
denomination was inconsistent in allowing dances and parties
to be held in the church halls while at the same time refusing a
Gospel mission under the leadership of Ian Paisley. The Free
Presbyterian Manifesto, which was published during the time
leading up to the founding of the new church, also mentioned
other reasons for the secession, such as the failure of the 1927
heresy trial in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) to
unseat Professor Davey for his controversial views,
membership in the World Council of Churches (which the PCI
later left), and poll irregularities in the election of elders.[7] In
that year, under the leadership of Paisley, four new
congregations joined to form the Presbytery of the Free Lisburn Free Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church of Ulster.

Sydney Lince served as Moderator of the new church for a few months, but perceiving that Paisley was
keen to take on the role, he stood down and asked Paisley to replace him.[8] One of the inaugural elders of
the new church, George Gibson, was expelled for his views on the doctrines of holiness as he was an
Arminian, and subsequently rejoined Lissara Presbyterian Church in 1958. He had been the first secretary
of the new church, had served as the architect of the first church building in the new denomination, and his
office had been used as the registered office of the denomination.[9]

Recent history

Internal strife

The appointment of Paisley as First Minister of Northern Ireland in May 2007 led to a great deal of
controversy within the Free Presbyterian Church. Many members of the church claimed that such an
appointment put Paisley, as Moderator, at odds with many of the core beliefs of his church. The church had
declared some years previously that it would be unbiblical to have terrorists or ex-terrorists in the
government of Northern Ireland. The church is also strongly opposed to homosexuality, yet the First
Minister's office is responsible for protecting LGBT rights in Northern Ireland. One of Paisley's strongest
critics was his erstwhile ally and former prison cellmate Ivan Foster. A stormy meeting of the Presbytery of
the church in September 2007 resolved the crisis by agreeing that Paisley would step down as Moderator in
January 2008. The Presbytery met in Dungannon on 18 January 2008 to elect a new Moderator and
selected Ron Johnstone, who had been Deputy Moderator. Paisley was therefore replaced as Moderator
after more than 50 years in the post.[10]

Opposition to homosexuality

Following a number of high-profile comments made by Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Member of
Parliament (MP) Iris Robinson, the Advertising Standards Authority upheld a finding that an advertisement
placed by the Kirk Session of the Sandown Free Presbyterian Church breached advertising codes. The
church had taken out the 540-word advertisement in the News Letter on 1 August 2008 (one day before the
annual Belfast Gay Pride event) calling homosexuality "an abomination"; it "defined homosexuals as
perverts and called on religious followers to maintain a very public stance against the gay community".[11]
The decision was later overturned and the church cleared of all wrongdoing.[12]

Doctrine
The church adheres to Calvinist doctrines. It also self-describes as fundamentalist which it sees as an
appropriate term to describe its stance of being anti-liberal. Fundamentalism has evolved over the years to
where the original five essential doctrines that one had to hold to be considered fundamentalist—namely:
the inerrancy of the Bible, the literal nature of the Biblical accounts, the Virgin Birth of Christ, the bodily
resurrection and physical return of Christ, the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross—were mixed
with "biblical separatism", a doctrine that advocates avoiding any public or private worship with people of
other denominations that it considers apostates or heretics. At the start of Paisley's ministry this separatism
was focused heavily on the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, a denomination from which it drew many of its
initial members. For the FPC, the main target of its doctrinal ire, however, has always been and still
continues to be the Roman Catholic Church. From 2011 until 2015, its main website greeted visitors with a
statement on the FPC's disapproval of the Catholic Mass, disputing "the false notion... that there is little
difference" between the Mass and Protestant communion.[13]

Baptism and the Lord's Supper are recognised as sacraments of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.
Members are allowed to determine the proper mode (immersion, pouring, sprinkling) and subjects (adult
believers or believers' children) that they prefer, but the church does not adhere to baptismal regeneration.
The Lord's Supper is observed monthly, unless a local congregation prefers a more frequent observance.
The ordinance of woman's headcovering is observed.[14] Alongside the Free Presbyterian Articles of Faith,
the Westminster Standards are considered doctrinal standards subordinate to the Bible.[15]

For many outside the church, political and religious opposition to the Catholic Church, considered by the
Free Presbyterians to be a Protestant Reformation principle represents the single most distinctive
characteristic of this denomination, not least because this was a distinctive characteristic of Ian Paisley's
own theological outlook.

Ecclesiology
The FPC (on 18 May 2005) published a Book of Church Order in which its governmental policies and
procedures are set forth publicly.[16]

The polity of the FPC includes allowing a cleric such as Paisley to hold an apparently indefinite term of
office as Moderator. However, following a dispute over Paisley's political activities, he agreed to step down
as Moderator in January 2008. He was succeeded by Ron Johnstone.[17] The North American branch of
the denomination has elected its own moderator since 2005.

Churches worldwide
From four churches in 1951, the denomination grew and peaked at 75 by 1997. Today it has about 60
congregations in Northern Ireland and a total of about 100 throughout the world, including England,
Scotland, the Republic of Ireland (chiefly in County Donegal and County Monaghan), Canada, the United
States, Nepal and Australia. According to the 2011 Northern Ireland census, 10,068 people identified as
Free Presbyterian in Northern Ireland.[18] As of 2004, missionaries were serving in India, Jamaica, Kenya,
the Republic of Ireland, Spain, the Philippines and Germany.[19] Since then new mission fields opened in
Liberia, Nepal and Uganda.
In Kenya, the church's 4 missionaries work with the Bible Christian Faith Church. In Liberia the forming
Free Presbyterian Church in Liberia has 4 congregations.[20][21]

The church currently operates two Bible colleges for the training of ministers and missionaries. These are
the Whitefield College of the Bible, formerly based in Banbridge, County Down, but now relocated to
Belfast, and the Geneva Reformed Seminary in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.

The church in North America has been independent of the Ulster Presbytery since 2005, and has its own
Moderator. Frank McClelland was the first Moderator, and was succeeded in 2006 by David Mook (a
minister in Phoenix, Arizona). The two Presbyteries are in full communion with each other. A Free
Presbyterian International Congress was held 19–23 June 2006 in Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian
Church in Belfast, attended by Free Presbyterians from all over the world. The Nepal Free Presbyterian
Church elects its own Moderator, currently the Paul Thapa. This Presbytery is also in full communion with
the other two.

Church layout
Free Presbyterian Churches are usually of simple design, following Protestant ideals dating back to the
Reformation. This contrasts with traditional Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, which tend to be
ornamented. The church states that this shows humility and allows the member to focus on worship.

Churches usually include the following:

Pulpit – Generally centre focal point, adorned with a

pulpit fall.
Communion table – Sits in the centre of the church,
at the front, usually in front of the pulpit (if the pulpit
is in the middle).
Pews – These differ in design and shape.
Organ/piano – Nearly all churches will have some
sort of musical accompaniment. This is usually a Interior of Tandragee Free Presbyterian
piano, with larger churches owning an organ.
Church
Verse of Scripture – A verse of the Bible is placed
on the wall behind the pulpit, where it is most visible.
This can be painted or letters which are affixed to the wall.
Prayer room/crèche – A prayer room is located via a different door to the main hall.
Depending on the financial capabilities of the church, the prayer room and crèche may be
together. The crèche is used for young children, and has a window whereby one can see the
preacher, and perhaps a speaker system for audio.
Depending on the size and finances of the church, there may be additional rooms such as
Youth Fellowship rooms, Sunday School rooms, and kitchens.

Church motto and logo

The motto of the Free Presbyterian Church is the same as the Presbyterian Church in Ireland: Ardens sed
virens ("burning but flourishing"). It is incorporated in a scroll form on the logo, shown here.
In all Free Presbyterian Churches, the pulpit fall bears the motto and logo of the
Church, albeit in slightly different designs.

Moderators
Sydney Lince – 1951
Ian Paisley – 1951–2008
Ron Johnstone – 2008–2012
Burning bush logo and
John Greer – 2012–2015 motto
Thomas Murray – 2015–2018
Gordon Dane – 2018–2020
John Armstrong – 2020

Books
Glynn Moore and Sharon Dick, The History of Crossgar Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, A New
Beginning ..(Crossgar, Co. Down: Crossgar Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, 2001) ISBN 1-84030-116-
3

See also
Free Presbyterian Church (Australia)
Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, a different denomination, begun in 1893 (for the
differences between the two, see the relevant section of that article).
Religion in the United Kingdom

Notes
1. Paisley founded both the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster and the Democratic Unionist
Party; however they are not officially linked, and DUP politicians are not necessarily church
members.

References
Citations

1. "Free Presbyterian Churches" (http://www.freepresbyterian.org/churches/). Free

Presbyterian Church of Ulster. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160809131210/htt
p://www.freepresbyterian.org/churches/) from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 2 May
2014.
2. "Church List" (http://www.freepresbyterian.org/churches/). Presbyterian Church of Ulster.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160809131210/http://www.freepresbyterian.org/chu
rches/) from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
3. "Free Presbyterian Church Information Page" (http://www.freepres.org/churchlist.asp?loc=w
orld). Free Presbyterian Church. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053506/htt
p://www.freepres.org/churchlist.asp?loc=world) from the original on 21 September 2013.
Retrieved 20 February 2013.
 4. "Nepal" (http://hebronfpc.org/_assets/Nepal%20mag%20LO%20RES.pdf) (PDF). FPC
Mission. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160126073819/http://hebronfpc.org/_asset
s/Nepal%20mag%20LO%20RES.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 26 January 2016.
Retrieved 16 December 2016.
5. "What's New – Lissara Presbyterian Church" (http://www.lissara.com/). Lissara.com.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20070117082542/http://www.lissara.com/) from the
original on 17 January 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
6. "Free Presbyterian Church – About us" (http://www.freepres.org/about.asp). Freepres.org.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110411215814/http://www.freepres.org/about.asp)
from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
7. Moore and Dick, pp26–30
8. Smyth, Clifford (1987). Ian Paisley: Voice of Protestant Ulster. p. 5. ISBN 9780707304991.
9. Moore and Dick, pp151–152
10. "Church elects new moderator" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7195246.stm).
BBC News. 19 January 2008. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170908015142/http://
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7195246.stm) from the original on 8 September 2017.
Retrieved 19 January 2008.
11. "Free Presbyterian advert ignites fresh anti-gay storm" (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne
ws/local-national/free-presbyterian-advert-ignites-fresh-antigay-storm-13931139.html).
Belfast Telegraph. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20080811060804/http://www.belfas
ttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/free-presbyterian-advert-ignites-fresh-antigay-storm-13
931139.html) from the original on 11 August 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
12. "Judge overturns ASA sodomy ad ban decision" (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ire
land-12818480). BBC News. 22 March 2011. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/201811
10144411/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12818480) from the original on
10 November 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
13. "FPC website June 2011" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110618141211/http://www.freepre
s.org/main.asp). Archived from the original (http://www.freepres.org/main.asp) on 18 June
2011.
14. "Distinctives" (https://www.freepresbyterian.org/distinctives/). Free Presbyterian Church of
Ulster. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
15. "Free Presbyterian Church – FPC Articles of Faith" (http://www.freepresbyterian.org/churche
s/). Freepresbyterian.org. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160809131210/http://ww
w.freepresbyterian.org/churches/) from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 8 October
2013.
16. "FPC Book of Church Order" (http://www.fpcna.org/fpcna_about.asp?localsection=bco).
Fpcna.org. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20120909063415/http://www.fpcna.org/fpc
na_about.asp?localsection=bco) from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved
8 October 2013.
17. "Report of Rev. Ivan Foster's visit to Czech Republic and Romania" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20120722044640/http://www.ivanfoster.org/article.asp?date=9%2F26%2F2007&seq=1
049). ivanfoster.org. July 2012. Archived from the original (http://www.ivanfoster.org/article.as
p?date=9/26/2007&seq=1049) on 22 July 2012.
18. "Religion – Full Detail: QS218NI (OpenDocument spreadsheet)" (https://www.ninis2.nisra.g
ov.uk/Download/Census%202011/QS218NI.ods). Northern Ireland Statistics and Research
Agency (NISRA). 2011. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210909071242/https://ww
w.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/Download/Census%202011/QS218NI.ods) from the original on 9
September 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
19. "Free Presbyterian Church – Church Information" (http://www.freepresbyterian.org/churche
s/). Freepresbyterian.org. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160809131210/http://ww
w.freepresbyterian.org/churches/) from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 8 October
2013.
20. "Kenya | Free Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis" (https://web.archive.org/web/201309190
65802/http://indyfpc.org/missions/kenya-2/). Indyfpc.org. Archived from the original (http://ind
yfpc.org/missions/kenya-2/) on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
21. "Liberia | Free Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis" (https://web.archive.org/web/201309190
50721/http://indyfpc.org/missions/liberia-2/). Indyfpc.org. Archived from the original (http://ind
yfpc.org/missions/liberia-2/) on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.

External links
Media related to Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster at Wikimedia Commons
Official website (http://www.freepresbyterian.org/)

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